Portugal’s Minister of Labour Doubles Down on Digital Nomads

What’s going on: 

According to The Portugal News, Godinho stated that it is necessary for the country to focus on Digital Nomads because they are “fundamental, namely because they have the ability to live in the interior, which has been rediscovered by new forms of work”.

Godinho emphasized a desire to focus on attracting people from outside the country to come work and live in Portugal. In a recent interview with Portuguese media outlet RTP3, she expressed that foreign workers make up 10% of the active contributors to the country’s Social Security, amounting to an incredible 1.8 billion euros. 

Why it matters: 

In recent years, Portugal has become a place for digital nomads to call a home away from home. However, the country recently eliminated its residency-by-investment program – also known as its Golden Visa – an incentive for many digital nomads to come work in Portugal. Since then, many of the country’s Digital Nomads have been considering work in other countries like Dubai, Turkey, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Germany because of their attractive incentives.  

 How it’ll impact the future: 

Many Portuguese politicians and business leaders have expressed a desire to continue making the country more inviting for digital nomads. In 2021, the Portuguese government adopted legislation that prevents employers from contacting remote workers during the country’s rest periods.

Increased workers’ rights from the government and a growing coworking industry add to Portugal’s vision for the future of their country’s economy – which has become more reliant on digital nomads.