Contracts (new hire agreements, severance, etc.)
Minimum 1 to 5 years (statute of limitations varies depending on type of claim)
Art. 337, Portuguese Labour Code;
Art. 52, Law n.º 107/2009
Performance records (performance reviews, promotions/demotions, licenses/certifications, investigations, disciplinary actions, etc.)
Art. 337, Portuguese Labour Code;
Art. 52, Law n.º 107/2009
Government verification records (work papers, immigration, eligibility to work, etc.)
Foreign employees ID and foreign employee records: 10 years
Art. 337, Portuguese Labour Code; Art. 52, Law n.º 107/2009
Background checks and drug tests
Where allowed, retain only as long as necessary to complete hiring process (delete after recruitment process unless relevant to on-going employment; if relevant, retain only if conviction unspent and delete once conviction spent)
Best practice based on GDPR, Art. 10
Recruitment (interview notes, resumes/CVs, reference checks, etc.)
From the date to which they relate
Art. 32, Portuguese Labour Code
Tracking/recordings (biometric, geo-location, online tracking, camera recordings, etc.)
Maximum 1 to 5 years;
*Specific recommendation from National Data Protection Commission to keep vehicles geo-location data for 1 week Maximum;
CCTV Recordings: Maximum 30 days
From termination;
CCTV Recordings: From date of recording
Art. 337, Portuguese Labour Code;
Art. 52, Law n.º 107/2009;
Art. 31, of Law n.º 34/2013 on Private Security Activity
Leave (family, medical, etc.)
From the date to which they relate
Art. 179, Law n.º 98/2009; Art. 73-B, Law n.º 102/2009 of 10 September on Health and Safety at Work
General: Minimum 5 years;
Exposure to level 3 and 4 biological agents: Minimum 10 years (40 years if exposure to hazardous substances caused latent or persistent infections or with late diagnosis)
From date of last entry in record
Decree-Law n.º 84/97 of April 16 on Exposure of Employees to Biological Agents; Art. 46(3), Law n.º 102/2009 of 10 September on Health and Safety at Work; Art. 73-B, Law n.º 102/2009 of 10 September on Health and Safety at Work
Hazardous material and other exposure records
General: Minimum 5 years;
Exposure to level 3 and 4 biological agents: Minimum 10 years (40 years if exposure to hazardous substances caused latent or persistent infections or with late diagnosis)
From date of last entry in record
Decree-Law n.º 84/97 of April 16 on Exposure of Employees to Biological Agents; Art. 46(3), Law n.º 102/2009 of 10 September on Health and Safety at Work; Art. 73-B, Law n.º 102/2009 of 10 September on Health and Safety at Work
