“We‘ve had irresponsible policy in area of immigration” for years
Grappling with the results of fairly chaotic immigration over recent years, the caretaker government has today sealed the deal on “the Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labour Migration”.
Presided over by prime minister Luís Montenegro at the Palácio das Necessidades’ headquarters of the ministry of foreign affairs in Lisbon, the new agreement paves the way for what he termed “more agile but also more humane” rules.
“We are starting from a very problematic point, let’s be clear: in recent years we have had an irresponsible policy in the area of immigration (…) the lack of control” has resulted in a decrease in the capacity for integration and a “less humanistic sensitivity”.
Thus his government is carrying out “a true structural reform”.
“For this mechanism to work, there must be a valid employment contract, travel and health insurance for the worker, a professional training and Portuguese language learning plan and an adequate accommodation plan”. These four conditions “are in the interests of the country, the company and the workers”, he said.
According to the protocol, the granting of visas “must occur within 20 days from the day the applicant is seen at the consular post” (in whatever country) and provided that legal requirements are met, namely the existence of an employment contract, health and travel insurance, among others.
Source: LUSA
