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Technology is an important part of our lives. It can also be intrusive. Many employers contact employees outside of working hours. This means staff can never completely switch off. Portugal has acted to limit this incursion into workers' lives. A new law bans bosses from messaging workers outside of working hours. It applies to companies with over 10 workers. Any violation of the law is a "serious offense," which could result in a fine.
Portugal introduced the new law after getting many complaints during the lockdowns. More staff are working remotely because of Covid. The government said employers must "respect the privacy of the worker" and give them the tools to work from home. They must also reimburse any costs for increased energy bills. The number of remote workers will nearly double to 32 per cent of the global workforce by the end of 2021, compared to 17 per cent in 2019.
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