What's the minimum wage and how is overtime paid?
The national minimum wage in 2026 is €920/month (mainland), paid 14 times a year. It was set by Decree-Law 139/2025, in force since 1 January 2026 (up €50 from €870 in 2025); the net is around €819 after 11% Social Security, and the minimum wage is IRS-exempt. (Azores and Madeira have higher regional figures; this is mainland.) The week is 40 hours / 8 hours a day. Overtime pays extra: up to 100h/year, +25% the first hour and +37.5% after; +50% on a rest day or holiday. Above 100h/year, it rises to +50%/+75%/+100%. The meal allowance in 2026 is around €6.15/day (exempt up to that, or ~€10.45 by card). In short: €920 in 2026, with extras paid in tiers.
📋 The rules
- Minimum wage 2026: €920/month (mainland), 14×/year
- IRS-exempt; net ~€819
- 40-hour week / 8 hours a day
- Overtime: +25%/+37.5% (up to 100h/year)
- Rest day/holiday: +50% (or more above 100h)
🔓 Exceptions
- Azores and Madeira: higher regional minimum wage
- Above 100h/year of overtime: extras rise to 50/75/100%
- Meal allowance: exempt up to ~€6.15 (or ~€10.45 by card)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Paying below the minimum wage or not paying the overtime extras is an offence, enforced by the ACT, with fines scaling by company size and fault, plus the wage differences owed to the worker. Note two things: the €920 minimum wage and the other figures (meal allowance, IAS) are updated every year; and Brazil's "minimum wage" (in reais, with different rules) is often confused. Another myth: overtime "is always +50%" — on a normal day, the first tier is +25%/+37.5%. To know your rights: check you earn at least the minimum wage, that overtime is paid with the legal extras, and that the meal allowance respects the exemption limits.
📎 Official sources
- Decree-Law 139/2025 — 2026 minimum wage →
- Labour Code — arts. 203 and 268 →
- ACT — pay and working time →
❓ Frequently asked
What's the minimum wage in 2026?
On the mainland, the national minimum wage in 2026 is €920 gross per month, paid 14 times a year, per Decree-Law 139/2025. It rose €50 from €870 in 2025. The minimum wage is IRS-exempt, leaving the net at around €819 after the Social Security deduction.
How is overtime paid?
Overtime pays extra. Up to 100 hours a year, it's 25% more for the first hour and 37.5% more after, on a normal day. On a rest day or holiday, it's 50% more. Above 100 hours a year, the extras rise to 50%, 75% and 100%, depending on the case.
How many hours is the working week?
The normal working week is 40 hours, with a maximum of 8 hours a day. Above these limits, and within the legal limits, work is considered overtime and pays the relevant extras. There are specific regimes, such as adaptability or an hours bank, defined by law or agreement.
Is the meal allowance mandatory?
The meal allowance isn't mandatory under general law for the private sector, depending on the contract or collective agreement, but it's very common. In 2026 it's around €6.15 a day in the public sector and is tax-exempt up to that value in cash, or around €10.45 by card.
Does the minimum wage change every year?
Yes. The national minimum wage is updated annually by decree-law, usually with effect from 1 January. The same goes for figures like the meal allowance and the IAS. So you should always check the value in force for the year in question, which for 2026 is €920 on the mainland.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “minimum wage 2026 portugal”
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