Portugal Launches “Working in Portugal” Program for Employment of Immigrants

In a statement issued on Monday, April 11, the European Commission has revealed that the Portugal government will also be more focused on promoting the legal entry of immigrants into Portugal to seek a job, AtoZSerwisPlus.pt reports.

According to the Commission, the Working in Portugal program will facilitate the testing of these immigrants, including a “one-stop-shop for professional mobility.”

“The programme supports people securing legal entry to and staying in the country and finding employment,” the statement reads.

The Portuguese government is also planning to expand the democratic participation of foreigners in Portugal and municipal elections concerning foreign nationals in its territories.

By signing international reciprocity treaties, the government is considering that, in addition to its program, it will also ensure that migrants can exercise their right to vote in the country.

Seeing that Europe is already facing a refugee crisis due to the war in Ukraine, the new government aims to strengthen integration programs with the “active participation of local institutions and authorities.”

According to the government, to make this possible, it will be necessary to establish grants for the availability of reception, with support from European funds and a budget program to support the inclusion of refugees.

The government also clarifies that countries that have suffered from “migratory shocks” due to sudden population growth or loss will benefit from a Demographic Emergency instrument.

As for Portuguese or Portuguese descendants residing abroad, they will continue to be encouraged to return to Portugal through the Regressar Program.

On September 8, 2021, the Minister of Economy of Portugal, Pedro Siza Vieira, stressed that Portugal needed more migrant workers to solve the shortage of labour force.

Previously in July 2021, Portugal saw a large number of people who were employed and, at the same time, the creation of many jobs that needed many workers.

In a statement issued on September 23 by the European Commission, Minister Vieira also noted the need to provide solutions for the integration, housing, training, permanent residence of migrant workers, and the education of migrant children.

The government at the time was also seeking funding in order to be able to build housing, where municipalities would also be able to contribute to housing support through Portugal’s recovery plan and resilience.