The labour market is becoming increasingly competitive, and the demands placed on companies and their employees are growing. The ability to adapt depends mainly on the continuous updating of skills and the ongoing development of teams.
Training is both a strategic necessity and a legal right of employees, which the employer is required to provide. It is important to emphasise that, currently, and until the end of 2026, companies have the opportunity to reclaim the funds accumulated in the Fundo de Compensação do Trabalho (FCT – Labour Compensation Fund).
What is the Labour Compensation Fund (FCT)?
Created in 2013, the FCT was designed to ensure a financial reserve for the payment of up to 50% of compensation in the event of termination of an employment contract. Until May 2023, when the contribution requirement ended, companies accumulated significant amounts in this fund. With the end of this obligation, these amounts remained stagnant. However, until 31 December 2026, companies can reclaim these funds and use them to implement employee support measures – particularly in professional training. Otherwise, the amounts will revert to the State.
Why invest in training using the FCT?
This change enables companies to invest in employee training without incurring direct costs. It represents an opportunity to allocate financial resources that would otherwise be wasted.
The fact that the FCT can now be directed towards continuous training reinforces the importance of acquiring new skills – both in terms of optimising professional performance (upskilling) and in adjusting abilities to carry out new roles or tasks (reskilling).
It is, therefore, an excellent opportunity to promote internal training without the need for additional investment, allowing for a focus on enhancing competencies. This, in turn, improves competitiveness and innovation capacity, as well as employee satisfaction and retention. It is also worth remembering the legal requirement: employees have the right to training, and employers have the duty to provide it.
Certified Professional Training
In this context, it is essential to rely on a training provider certified by DGERT, with proven experience in the relevant training areas. Such certification ensures compliance with legal requirements for accredited training, as well as the quality of the entire training process – from needs assessment, design, and organisation to delivery and evaluation.
This represents an excellent strategy to transform the amounts accumulated in the FCT into knowledge, innovation, and competitiveness.
The CCG/ZGDV can assist in this process through its capacity-building and specialised training service – Tech Training Hub – a solution in the field of Information and Communication Technologies, tailored to the needs of companies and their employees.
Opinion Article by
Ana Alves, Tech Training Hub Manager
