The Labor Compensation Fund (FCT), traditionally associated with the termination of employment contracts, now plays a new role in Portuguese organizations. With the changes introduced by Decree-Law No. 115/2023, the accumulated funds can now be used for various purposes, including investment in vocational training.
Since 2013, and for more than a decade, the FCT has been treated primarily as an administrative requirement and a tool to be utilized; yet the government did not take it into account in strategic discussions or in corporate development or talent policies.
This recent change marks a paradigm shift: the fund now represents a strategic opportunity for companies, which gain access to an additional tool for developing skills and enhancing the qualifications of their teams.
Companies have until December 31 to use this option
Despite the program’s potential, it is estimated that only about 20% of the total available funds have been mobilized to date. This still-low level of participation reflects lingering doubts regarding eligibility, the legal framework, and the actual implementation of the FCT within companies.
Currently, organizations’ main hesitation stems from a lack of knowledge about how to use this resource in a useful and strategic way. Given that this is a defined timeframe—from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2026—the coming years will be crucial for companies to assess how they can take advantage of this resource.
The sense of urgency is real and must translate into investment in workforce training and in strengthening companies’ ability to adapt.
The changes to the FCT are a tool for business development
When strategically utilized, the Labor Compensation Fund can serve as a means to accelerate internal training, benefiting the entire organization.
Depending on each company’s needs, the FCT can be used, for example, to train a large number of employees, organize training sessions tailored to different job levels, or even invest in advanced programs for strategic talent and leadership roles.
The challenge is to turn the ‘legal framework’ into an ‘organizational decision’
In this context, Nova SBE’s Executive Training program has been helping companies interpret the legal framework and develop certified training plans aligned with their strategic objectives, thereby helping to make the FCT a true driver of organizational development.
This support may also include validating the certification framework for training solutions, as well as recommending the documentation required to access the fund.
More than just facilitating access to the FCT, Nova SBE Executive Education aims to help companies make strategic use of this opportunity, transforming an administrative and bureaucratic process into a direct investment that has a real impact on employee development and organizational growth.
To make the process easier for companies, Nova SBE Executive Education offers direct support and materials that help clarify the steps required to access FCT funding.
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