Drawing up plans for evaluation of the remuneration differences, has been a challenge for companies that have requested Belzuz Abogados, S.L.P. for legal advice.

From our experience in drawing up such plans, we have seen that, in many cases, the pay gaps presented in the Statistical Balance drafted by the Gabinete de Estratégia e Planeamento  are not really considered actually weighted in terms of the jobs, resulting in a comparison of different situations in terms of the value of the work, which can distort the results and the conclusion that there are pay gaps.

Even if companies consider that such remuneration differences are objectively justified, they are not exempt from drawing up the plans for evaluation and submitting it to the Portuguese Authority for Labour Conditions (“ACT”). In fact, the non-presentation of the plan, as well as the non-implementation of the same and/or the non-communication of the results of its implementation to ACT, is deemed as an administrative serious offense and may result in a fine.

It should be noted that by drawing up the plans for evaluation, companies not only comply with the ACT’s notification, but also improve transparency and the company’s image in the labour market.

Belzuz Abogados, S.L.P. is entirely at companies’ disposal to provide the necessary support in drawing up the plans for evaluation and to provide any further clarification or advice on this subject.