How to record the worker-student status
What is it for?
It keeps the worker-student status for each school year and shows the hours of weekly release for classes the employee is entitled to. At the end of the year, the school result says whether the rights continue.
When to use it?
- When the employee hands in proof that they are studying, at the start of each school year.
- At the end of the school year, to enter the result.
- When the contract ends in the middle of the school year.
- Do not use this record to mark a day of absence: each absence is recorded separately, in Absences.
Where to find it?
- People › Contracts and departures › Worker-student status.
- On the employee's file: ⋮ › Worker-student status.
Before you start
- Your profile is Payroll Administrator or HR.
- You have the date on which the employee handed in the proof of status, and the class timetable.
- Find out whether the collective agreement (IRCT) or the contract gives more hours than the law.
How to use it
- Open the list and click New. With no records, the list says “The worker-student statuses appear here; register one with “New”.”
- Choose the Worker. Fill in School year from and School year until, for example 15/09/2026 and 31/07/2027.
- In Proof of the status delivered on, enter the date on which you received the proof.
- Confirm the Normal weekly hours. The Weekly release for classes (hours) is calculated automatically.
- If the IRCT or the contract gives more hours, fill in Weekly release agreed (hours) and the Instrument of the agreement. Click Save.
- At the end of the school year, in Result of the school year, choose Passed (art. 94.º/4), Counts as passed (art. 94.º/5) or Not passed. It stays Not known yet until then.
- If the contract ends in the middle of the year, fill in Contract ended on.
Example. With 40 weekly hours, the legal release for classes is 6 hours a week. With the Result set to Not passed, Class rights ceased is ticked. Other rights ceased is only ticked after two consecutive years, or three non-consecutive years, without passing.
Expected result
| Normal weekly hours | Weekly release for classes |
|---|---|
| from 20 to less than 30 | 3 hours |
| from 30 to less than 34 | 4 hours |
| from 34 to less than 38 | 5 hours |
| 38 or more | 6 hours |
Source: Labour Code (Código do Trabalho), art. 90.º, no. 3, text read on the PGDL portal on 16/10/2026, rules stored in Payroll › Configure › Law and calendars › Legal parameters, in force since 01/01/2026.
The worker-student's absences have their own types in Absences: see How to record absences. They are Release from work to attend classes (worker-student, art. 90.º/2), Test at a school (worker-student) and Unpaid leave of the worker-student (art. 92.º/2).
Important notes
- The status does not change the payslip. The payslip only changes through the recorded and approved absences, according to their type.
- fiscaldoo does not check the class timetable nor count the release hours already used. The record shows the entitlement, not the use.
- Each school year is a new record. The law requires proof of the status every year (art. 94.º).
Common problems
The agreed release is refused
- Message: “The agreed release (4.0 h) is below the legal one (6.0 h, CT art. 90.º/3). What happened: an instrument cannot give the worker-student less than the Code (art. 3.º/3). How to fix it: type 6.0 h or more, or clear the field.”
- Cause: the agreed value is lower than the legal one.
- What to do: enter an equal or higher value, or clear the field.
It does not save: fields in red
- Message: “Some required fields are empty. Fill in the fields marked in red to be able to save.”
- Cause: you entered hours in Weekly release agreed (hours) without the Instrument of the agreement.
- What to do: fill in the instrument or clear the hours.
Two overlapping school years
- Message: “… already has a worker-student status in those dates. What happened: two school years overlap. How to fix it: end the previous school year the day before this one starts.”
- Cause: the dates overlap a record that already exists.
- What to do: correct the dates, in either of the two.