Art teachers remain on fixed‑term contracts 15 years
Fenprof, the National Federation of Teachers, says some teachers in artistic and vocational education have been kept on fixed‑term contracts (contratos a termo) for up to 15 years, a practice Fenprof warns breaches EU community directives. The federation's secretary‑general raised the issue to highlight long‑term instability in that sector. Teachers working in arts and vocational schools and parents of pupils should be aware this dispute could prompt inspections or legal challenges.
Fenprof is the National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores), the main public‑school teachers' union in Portugal that represents teachers in pay, working conditions and education reforms. Its criticism matters because Fenprof can organize strikes and mobilise teachers, which directly affects school operations and the implementation of government changes — something families and expat educators should monitor.
A fixed-term contract is an employment agreement that ends on a specific date or when a defined task is finished, rather than continuing indefinitely. EU rules (notably Directive 1999/70/EC) aim to prevent long-term use of successive fixed-term contracts without objective reasons, so teachers kept on fixed-term contracts for many years — like the 15 years mentioned by the National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores or Fenprof) — may have legal grounds to challenge that practice. For expat teachers, fixed-term work means less job security and usual benefits may be limited, so check contract length, renewal terms and consider union or legal advice if you suspect abuse.
