Yes, you must give a lunch break, and the minimum duration is set by Portuguese law. Here are the rules.

What the law says

Under the Portuguese Labour Code, the work period cannot exceed 5 consecutive hours without a break. The minimum break duration is 1 hour (and maximum 2 hours, unless the collective agreement provides otherwise).

Shorter breaks: exceptions

A break of less than 1 hour (minimum 30 minutes) is allowed if the collective agreement applicable to the company provides for it, or if the Labour Authority approves a specific adaptation of hours.

What happens if you do not give the break

Not providing the legally required break is a labour infraction that can be reported to the ACT. It can also give the employee grounds to claim the time as overtime. Make sure the break is recorded in your time tracking system.

Continuous schedules and shifts

In shift work or continuous operations, break management is more complex. Ensure your time tracking system supports break recording, not just shift start and end times.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.