Portugal

Labour law in the digital age: the power of control versus the dignity of the worker

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 13/11/2026, 14:11:24 UTC.

Briefings

A Portuguese article argues that while digital technologies allow employers to monitor workers, the law must distinguish between legitimate control and invasive surveillance. It highlights the Portuguese legal framework, noting the Code of Commerce (1888) and Labor Contract Law (1969) remain relevant despite social changes. The text emphasizes the right to disconnect, warns against the 'culture of availability' causing burnout, and identifies AI as a high-risk area under the EU AI Act, specifically for recruitment and performance evaluation.

Key points

• The Portuguese Code of Commerce (1888) and the Labor Contract Law (1969) remain partially in force and applicable to the digital age, providing a legal basis for regulating work conditions.
• Legitimate control of professional activity is permitted, but permanent surveillance via webcams or continuous keystroke monitoring constitutes intrusive vigilance prohibited by law.

Context

This briefing analyzes the tension between technological advancement and worker dignity in Portugal, using existing laws to define acceptable digital workplace practices.

Limitations

The source text is limited to a single article discussing Portuguese law and general principles. It does not provide specific case studies, named individuals, or quantitative data regarding current employment statistics or specific AI implementation rates.

Generated by Bittrees-hosted qwen35-2b sha256:aaf42c8b7c3c on 13/11/2026, 14:42:52 UTC. Based on publisher-provided feed evidence; may not cover the full original article. Check the source for details.

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