We’re counting down to Carnival, but the typical joy of the season is already being felt everywhere , with lots of parties and parades. Because it’s a festive date, the Portuguese government has decided to grant time off next Tuesday, March 4.
The measure was recently approved in a decree and covers direct state administrations and public institutes. This decision “is justified by established practice and habit”, as explained at a press conference by the Minister for the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, quoted by SIC Notícias.
Despite not being an official national holiday, Carnival is celebrated by many communities from the north to the south of Portugal. Therefore, as with Christmas and New Year, the government has once again granted the civil service time off.
However, there are some exceptions within the State’s direct administrations and public institutes :
Naturally, all those entities that, for reasons of public interest, need to keep their services running are subject to a different regime,” said the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, quoted by SIC Notícias.