The Workers' Statute recognizes paid leave for professional training, granting up to 20 annual hours paid. This measure allows employees to be absent from work without loss of salary, provided the training is related to their professional activity or job role.
This right, established in Article 23 of the Statute, allows unused hours to be accumulated over five consecutive years. Thus, an employee who has never requested the leave could have up to 100 paid hours for longer courses or specializations.
To apply for this leave, employees must have at least one year of seniority in the company. The training must be directly related to the company's activity or the job position. For example, an administrative assistant could train in accounting or digital tools, but the company could reject courses unrelated to its business.
Time spent on this training is considered effective working time, ensuring the usual salary is paid. The enjoyment of these hours must be agreed upon between the company and the employee to avoid organizational conflicts.
Additionally, labor legislation includes the Individual Training Leave (PIF), which allows up to 200 hours for official studies such as degrees, master's programs, or vocational training. This leave has stricter requirements, including classes coinciding with work hours and proof of attendance.
Many labor agreements improve these conditions, so you should read yours to know if you have more training hours.
