The Government will grant time off to workers who perform public functions on the 24th, 26th and 31st of December, one more day than usual, states an order signed by the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro.
In 2025, unlike previous years, December 26th, which follows Christmas, falls on a Friday, which led the executive to also grant time tolerance on that day.
In the order signed by the Prime Minister, to which the Lusa agency had access, it is stated that “it is a common practice for many people to travel outside their places of residence during the Christmas and New Year period, with a view to holding family gatherings”.
In this sense, according to the same order, “time allowance is granted to workers who perform public functions in direct State administration services, whether central or deconcentrated, and in public institutes” on the 24th, 26th and 31st of December.
“The exceptions are (…) services and bodies that, for reasons of public interest, must remain in operation during that period, under terms to be defined by the competent member of the Government”, the order highlights.
In these cases related to the operation of services for reasons of public interest, it is determined that, “without prejudice to the continuity and quality of the service to be provided, the top managers of the services and bodies (…) must promote the equivalent exemption from the duty of attendance of the respective workers, on a day or days to be determined in due course”.