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With 80 jobs in the construction sector, Portugal is facing a historic crisis and is calling on foreigners, including Brazilians, to save billion-dollar projects. The government is launching measures to speed up hiring and promises faster regularization. Is this a chance to start over in Portugal?
Why Portugal is experiencing a labor crisis so severe that it is necessary to appeal to foreigners?
At a time when the European economy is facing challenges, the Iberian country is seeking solutions to the imminent collapse in the construction sector.
Companies are putting pressure on the government, and drastic measures are being announced to attract workers from other countries. But what are the details of this “emergency operation”?
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At the heart of this discussion is urgency: Portugal needs at least 80 workers in the construction sector.
According to information from the newspaper The Globe, the Portuguese government presented measures to facilitate the legal entry of foreigners and speed up regularization processes.
The aim is to ensure that strategic projects, such as those funded by the European Union's billion-dollar Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), are not hampered by a lack of skilled workers.
Emergency measures to attract workers
The Portuguese government has decided to implement what it calls a “green route” for the regularization of immigrants.
According to the newspaper The Globe, the measure seeks to speed up legal procedures so that foreigners can be hired safely and quickly.
This “green route” does not change entry visa requirements or create new legal forms of immigration, but it promises to simplify and speed up the bureaucratic process.
As announced, foreign workers who have a formal employment contract and enter the country regularly will be the main beneficiaries of this initiative.
The initiative also includes a cooperation protocol between government and companies, focusing on responsible and controlled recruitment.
This commitment provides that only workers with an approved work visa can benefit from the agility in the process.
Pressures from the construction sector
The Association of Civil Construction and Public Works Industry Workers (AICCOPN) was one of the main voices demanding rapid changes.
According to the entity, the lack of labor could put large projects underway in the country at risk.
These delays can impact both the national economy and the delivery deadlines for works financed by European funds.
According to AICCOPN, the current situation highlights the need to review immigration policy in Portugal.
The government, however, argued that the measures meet demands without opening new “legal doors”, maintaining control over migratory flows.
Divergent opinions
Although the measures receive support from part of the business community, there are also criticisms.
According to a The Globe, the president of the Liberal Initiative party, Rui Rocha, stated that the government finally admits the mistakes of past immigration policies.
He stressed that the proposed solution is palliative and defended a broader flexibility for the entry of immigrants.
On the other hand, experts point to the accumulation of residence permit processes.
Currently, thousands of immigrants await regularization, which raises doubts about the system's ability to handle a possible increase in demand.
The labor crisis in Portugal
The lack of skilled workers in the construction sector is just one part of a larger problem.
The Portuguese economy faces challenges related to the migration of young talent to other European countries, in addition to an accelerated population aging.
This combination has created an unprecedented situation: there is demand for workers, but there is no one to fill the vacancies.
Opportunities for Brazilians
Among the foreigners targeted by the measures, Brazilians stand out for several reasons.
Linguistic affinity and historical ties make Portugal an attractive option for those seeking new professional opportunities.
Furthermore, the experience of Brazilians in the area of construction is highly valued by the Portuguese market.
The sector does not only require specialized professionals. There is also space for workers without previous experience, as long as they are willing to learn and adapt to market demands.
And you, would you be willing to embark on this adventure and build a new life in Portugal? Leave your opinion in the comments!
Portugal pays one of the lowest salaries in Europe, for this reason the Portuguese themselves go to work in other countries, and it is no different with Brazilians, as soon as they get residency, they go to other countries in search of better salaries that can be up to 200% higher than those practiced in Portugal.
In addition to very expensive and difficult to find rentals, having to pay 3 to 5 rentals of 600 to 1000 euros depending on the place
I want to work in Portugal.
If the Portuguese government makes immigration easier and decrees that anyone who wants to come and work in Portugal does not need a visa, I would take the risk