A new project to address the lack of labor in Portugal was launched this Monday, December 15th. This is “Mover”, which aims to support the regular entry into the country of 320 immigrants from Angola and Cape Verde, in addition to guiding 800 migrant citizens for recruitment processes.
The initiative is from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), financed by the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration (FAMI), with the support of the Governments of Angola and Cape Verde and Portuguese labor associations. The objective is for professionals, especially young people, to come and work in Portugal with support throughout the entire period. process, including integration, through technical Portuguese classes and social support. It is expected that at least 20 companies will participate in the project, hosting these professionals.
Migrants will receive clear information about the entire process, individualized support, pre-departure training and certification. The entire project will also be monitored by IOM. Among the partners are the Portuguese Business Association (AEP), the Portuguese Hotel Association (AHP) and the Portuguese Commerce and Services Confederation.
The project is based on the premise that Portugal faces a labor shortage. Some numbers were presented: there are around 80 thousand workers missing in the construction sector, with 40% of services unresponsive; there is a lack of professionals in the hotel and tourism sector, a sector that represents 10% of GDP, where 18.3% of the workforce is made up of immigrants; and in agriculture, where scarcity is classified as structural.
This reality was highlighted by Nuno Gonçalves, vice-president of the Board of Directors of the Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (IAPMEI). “Every day we see companies in need of workers. They need good staff to grow their businesses”he stated during the event.