Government to widen foreigner tax breaks – but it’s not NHR // Three dead, three missing after fishing boat sinks off Atlantic coast
Portuguese news in English on Tuesday, July 9, 2024.
Government to widen foreigner tax breaks – but it’s not NHR
Portugal’s government wants to reintroduce tax breaks that attracted foreigners to the country in great numbers, with changes to address problems related to pensions, the Financial Times reports, in English. Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento made the revelation to the international paper before announcing it to the country last week. He indicated to the FT that the measures would be a return of the NHR regime that was scrapped last year, covering the same 20% flat income tax rate but only for “salaries and professional income”. “It will exclude dividends, capital gains and pensions, which was a problem between Portugal and countries like Finland or Sweden,” he said.
Hours after the article was published, and cited by multiple Portuguese outlets, he walked back his comments, clarifying that what was actually being announced was a broadening of an existing fiscal incentive for science and innovation to more professions, Público reports. That means instead of having to pass through the parliament, which wouldn’t be guaranteed in its current makeup, the Social Democratic government can act on its own to make alterations. It’s not clear exactly what extra professions would be included.
Fishing boat sinks off Atlantic coast, killing three
Three fishers are dead and three more remain missing after a fishing boat sank off Portugal’s Atlantic Coast, Público reports. The Virgem Dolorosa sank roughly one nautical mile off the coast near Marinha Grande, in the Leiria district between Nazaré and Figueira da Foz, early on Wednesday morning with 17 crew ranging in age from their 20s to 60s on board. All of the survivors, rescued by nearby fishing boats, were taken to hospital and one remained there later that night in a serious condition. It’s unclear what happened as conditions weren’t particularly difficult at the time but it’s possible a wave knocked the boat off balance or pushed all the fish to one side, with the same effect.
Land and sea searches continued yesterday for the missing people along with efforts by private divers to refloat the boat, Lusa reports. The missing fishers are from Praia da Leirosa in Figueira da Foz. On Saturday, funerals were held in Figueira da Foz and nearby Lavos for those who died.
Courts giving Uber Eats and Glovo wins in delivery rider cases
Uber Eats, Glovo and other smaller food delivery platforms are winning the vast majority of cases seeking to link their delivery riders to them as employees, Público reports. There are currently more than 800 processes under way in various Portuguese courts debating the subject. Of the 56 already decided and publicly available, 49 fell in favour of the companies and just seven ruled the rider should have a work contract.
University of Coimbra Faculty of Law João Leal Amado said it was too early to judge how the law — introduced last year and seemingly tipping the balance towards the assumption of a working agreement between rider and platform — was being applied and that it was necessary to wait for more cases to reach higher courts.
In brief
EU pushes against drugs with new Lisbon-based agency. The European Union Drugs Agency will focus on health and security threats, including by monitoring new substances and working on cross-border cooperation. (Euronews, in English)
Pickpockets sentenced to up to 10 years in jail. In the first five months of the year, police arrested 60 people, almost double the 2023 figure. In one Colombian family gang the aunt was sentenced to 10 years, the niece to eight years and the grandmother to four years. (Público)
Rail workers to strike again. CP employees filed a strike warning for July 22 and 24 over an attempt to add a condition to an agreement already announced to give pay rises to all CP workers, regardless of their union. (Lusa)
Portuguese PM to join NATO summit and dine with Biden at White House. Social Democrat leader Luís Montenegro and other chiefs of staff will have dinner with the US president on Wednesday. (Lusa)
One hundred most valuable Portuguese brands worth €20.3 billion. EDP is the most valuable brand for the sixth year in a row while Galp had the largest increase in value, according to Onstrategy. (Diário de Notícias)
Elon Musk visits Portugal for unknown reason. His private jet touched down in Cascais on Friday. According to jet tracking accounts he later flew to Porto before returning to Texas yesterday. (Diário de Notícias)
On a lighter note
A priest and a writer walk into a bar. It isn’t a joke; they’ll be there today from 5pm to launch Lisbon’s newest craft beer, Santa Cruz, Público reports. The name comes from Igreja de Santa Cruz do Castelo where parish priest Edgar Clara is raising money for some restoration work. The improvements to the altars and some other parts cost €200,000 and they hope the beer and some other fundraising efforts will help. You can buy the imperial saison, which is made by Xó flavoured with strawberry tree fruit and cardamom, in the church shop (at the ticket office for the Castelo São Jorge church tower), Crafty Corner (where the launch is) and at the Igreja da Graça terrace.