Frequently Asked Questions

SSF–Safe Steps Forward Empresa de Trabalho Temporário, LDA is a fully licensed and authorised employment agency headquartered in Lisbon, Portugal, providing comprehensive workforce solutions for businesses and workers across Portugal and the EU.

Our services include:

• Recruitment and candidate sourcing
• Candidate screening and selection
• Employment and workforce placement
• Onboarding and documentation support
• Workforce deployment and assignment
• Ongoing employee and client support
• Support for both local and international workers

Complete Process Flow:

1. Client Requirement
2. Candidate Sourcing
3. Screening
4. Interview & Assessment
5. Document Verification
6. Client Approval
7. Employment & Assignment
8. Onboarding
9. Deployment
10. Ongoing Support

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Connecting businesses with reliable talent and helping workers build a secure future in Europe.

SSF provides recruitment and workforce staffing solutions for industries experiencing high demand for skilled, semi-skilled, and general workers across Portugal and the wider EU.

Our key sectors include:

1. Agriculture, Forestry, Gardening & Landscaping Seasonal and permanent staffing for farms, forestry, gardening, landscaping, and related operations.
2. Warehousing & Warehouse Operations Warehouse workers, pickers, packers, loaders, stock handlers, and other operational staff.
3. Civil & Commercial Construction Skilled and general construction workers for residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects.
4. Production & Manufacturing Production operators, assembly workers, machine operators, quality-control staff, and general factory workers.
5. Hotels, Restaurants & Catering (HORECA) Chefs, kitchen assistants, waiters, housekeeping staff, cleaners, and hospitality personnel.
6. Heavy Industry & Industrial Operations Workforce solutions for industrial plants, heavy operations, maintenance, production, and related activities.
7. Transport & Logistics Drivers, delivery personnel, logistics operators, dispatch staff, and transportation support workers.
8. Healthcare & Care Services Recruitment support for qualified healthcare professionals, caregivers, nursing assistants, and care-service personnel.
9. Engineering & Skilled Trades Engineers, technicians, electricians, welders, plumbers, mechanics, and other skilled professionals.
10. Information Technology (IT) Recruitment of IT professionals, software developers, technical specialists, system administrators, and other technology talent.

Our Commitment

From essential workers to highly skilled professionals, SSF connects employers with dependable talent tailored to their workforce requirements.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Reliable people. Right opportunities. A stronger workforce.

Yes. SSF can support businesses with temporary staffing and workforce solutions for assignments in Portugal and across the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA), subject to applicable local employment, licensing, immigration, and regulatory requirements.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Connecting businesses with reliable talent across Europe.

SSF provides temporary workers to clients in Portugal and, where legally permitted, other EU/EEA countries. Our workforce may include Portuguese citizens and residence permit holders in Portugal, have the required Portuguese Tax Identification Number (NIF), Social Security Number (NISS), and registered address in Portugal.

Before employment and deployment, SSF verifies the worker’s identity, residence status, employment eligibility, and required documentation in accordance with applicable Portuguese and destination-country legislation.

Important: A Portuguese residence permit establishes lawful residence in Portugal, but it does not by itself confer Portuguese citizenship or an automatic right to work in another EU/EEA country. For cross-border assignments, SSF ensures that the appropriate legal requirements and authorisations are addressed before deployment.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Legally compliant staffing. Reliable workforce. Secure opportunities.

Whether you need one worker or a large team, SSF can provide fast and flexible staffing solutions, with deployment targeted within 5–7 working days, subject to worker availability, client approval, documentation, and applicable legal requirements.

Need Workers Urgently?

Don’t wait weeks to start your recruitment process. Contact SSF Employer Support today with your workforce requirement.

Send us these 6 essential details:

1. Job / Position
2. Number of Workers
3. Location
4. Start Date
5. Required Skills / Experience
6. Duration of Assignment

Our team will review your requirement and discuss the fastest available staffing solution for your business.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Reliable workers. Flexible staffing. Professional workforce support across Europe.

NO.

Clients do not necessarily need to purchase credit insurance themselves. Credit insurance is primarily used by SSF to manage the risk of client non-payment.

• Credit insurance protects SSF against the risk of client non-payment.
• It helps SSF continue to meet wages, Social Security, taxes, and other employment costs while waiting for client payments.
• For NEW clients, SSF may carry out a credit assessment before approving a staffing assignment.
• The credit limit may depend on the number of workers, assignment duration, and expected monthly invoices.
• If sufficient credit cover is not available, SSF may request advance payment or another appropriate financial guarantee.
• This helps SSF provide stable, reliable, and sustainable staffing services to its clients and workers.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Secure staffing. Reliable service. Professional workforce solutions.

• SSF does not have one fixed price for temporary staffing.
• Our service is normally calculated based on the hourly rate and actual hours worked.
• The final rate depends on:
  • Worker’s salary and skill level
  • Sector and type of work
  • Employer Social Security and other employment costs
  • Work accident insurance
  • Holiday and other statutory employment payments
  • Medical examinations and required compliance costs
  • Accommodation and transportation, if provided by SSF
  • Assignment location and duration
  • Overtime, night, weekend or shift work
• Clients who provide accommodation and/or transportation may benefit from a lower staffing rate.
• SSF provides a clear commercial quotation before the assignment starts, with the agreed rate and conditions confirmed in the staffing agreement.
• Clients normally pay according to the hours actually worked, based on approved timesheets.

Need a Price?

Request Workforce Support

Send SSF your job position, number of workers, location, start date, working hours, duration, and accommodation/transport arrangements. SSF will prepare a tailored staffing quotation for your business.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Reliable workers. Transparent pricing. Flexible staffing.

• In Portugal, temporary assignments can generally be up to 2 years, including renewals, subject to legal requirements.
• Shorter limits may apply depending on the reason for the assignment.
• For EU/EEA assignments, the maximum duration depends on the laws of the destination country.
• SSF monitors assignment periods and renewals to ensure legal compliance.
• If the assignment needs to continue, SSF can discuss alternative staffing solutions with the client.

• Work accident: SSF coordinates the insurance claim and required medical support.
• Illness: SSF manages the worker’s sick-leave and Social Security procedures according to applicable law.
• The client must inform SSF immediately of any accident, injury, or illness affecting the worker.
• SSF supports the worker and client throughout the required procedures.
• For EU/EEA assignments, SSF follows the applicable rules in the host country.

For Portugal, temporary workers are covered by the general Social Security system, and the ETT is responsible for the required work-accident insurance.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-Supporting our workers from deployment to completion.

• Most SSF workers speak English and can communicate effectively in the workplace.
• Many workers also speak the local language of the country where they are assigned.
• Language skills are checked during the recruitment and screening process.
• SSF verifies relevant qualifications, training, certificates, and work experience, where required for the position.
• Workers are matched with clients based on the job requirements, skills, qualifications, and language needs.

SSF – Safe Steps Forward-We’re ready to help you find the right workforce solution.