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Our mission

• we receive complaints and issue legal opinions concerning equality and non- discrimination in labour and employment;
  
  
• we issue a legal opinion (within 30 days) which employers must obligatorily request before dismissing any pregnant worker, any worker who has recently given birth or who is breastfeeding, or male worker during the parental leave (paternity leave);
  
  
• we issue a legal opinion (within 30 days) which employers must request in advance when they disagree with part-time or flexitime work for male or female workers with one or more children under the age of 12;
  
  
• we examine the decisions of the employers not to renew fixed-term contracts of pregnant workers, workers who have recently given birth or who are breastfeeding, or male workers during the parental leave (paternity leave);
  
  
• we co-operate with the Working Conditions Authority in the application of legislation on equality and non-discrimination in labour, employment and vocational training;
  
  
• we register all legal decisions sent by the courts concerning equality and non-discrimination between men and women;
  
  
• we answer individual and employers queries about applicable legislation (through personal contact, in writing, by telephone, fax and e-mail);
  
  
• we examine whether or not employment advertisements comply with the rule which prohibits discrimination between women and men in the access to any profession or job;
  
  
• we promote studies and research, disseminate legislation and legal opinions concerning equality and non-discrimination in labour, employment and vocational training, as well as good practices for reconciling professional, personal and family life;
  
  
• we award the “Equality is Quality” Prize to businesses and employers that pursue exemplary policies regarding equality and good practices for reconciling professional, personal and family life, in partnership with the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG);
  
  
• we develop and organize training projects, awareness-enhancing activities and other initiatives, in the fields of equality in labour, employment and vocational training and of reconciliation of professional, personal and family life;
  
  
• we promote equality between men and women in employment, particularly among employers, through equality plans and by developing non-discriminatory policies with regard to gender in recruitment, selection, access to continuous vocational training, career advancement and managerial level positions, remuneration and in the fight against precarious contracts, in addition to the development of good practices for reconciling professional, personal and family life;
  
  
• we take part in the preparation and implementation of the National Plan for Equality;
  
  
• we follow up on the questions regarding equality and non-discrimination between women and men in labour, employment and vocational training at the European Union and international organisations levels.

Decree-Law no. 76/2012, of 26th March, approving the Legal Framework
of the Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment