Lack of 80,000 construction workers will be made up by immigrants
Behind today’s bold announcement of ‘double the amount of public housing by 2030’ is the clue to all the ‘pro-immigration’ studies and commentaries that have been trailed in the media recently.
As Expresso explains in its headline story on the government’s €4.2 billion plan to tackle Portugal’s desperate housing crisis, it could not be possible without immigrant labour.
Indeed, the masterplan involves a “kind of green lane for the regularisation of immigrants”.
Manuel Reis Campos, president of the Portuguese confederation of real estate and construction (CPCI) tells the paper that “there is in fact a shortage of 80,000 people in the sector, but that this can be resolved with the mass regularisation of immigrants who will later be submitted to training in the various centres that exist for this effect”.
‘Mass regularisation’ efforts have already got underway.
Expresso has also explained how the government means to circumnavigate delays that have already appeared in PRR financing.
For example, of the 26,000 homes promised by the last government, only 2,000 have so far been delivered, and another 10,000 “are not going to comply with established deadlines for them to receive PRR funding.
“For this reason, they will be taken out of the PRR programme and substituted by another 10,000 whose projects are at a more advanced stage”.
This way the new government is in no danger of receiving less in the way of PRR funding for housing.
As for the extra €2.8 billion that will come out of the State Budget, the first €845 million has already been approved (by last week’s Council of Ministers), says the paper, and the remaining €2.011 billion will be approved in a later phase to guarantee the construction of 32,993 homes that will (now) be candidating for PRR funding, beyond the 26,000 initially planned”.
According to the paper, Housing and Infrastructures minister Miguel Pinto Luz is convinced the PRR funding deadlines can all be met – and has been working on this plan for some time.
Part of the reasoning for doubling the number of homes to be built within the next six years is to help bring prices down (across the country as a whole). But the essential is focused on giving the youngest citizens a chance to get onto the housing ladder, and remain living and working in this country.
Expresso adds that “a pact with the construction/ real estate sector will soon be announced” aimed at opening doors to more immigrant labour. This pact will involve minister for the presidency António Leitão Amaro, currently overseeing the legalisation of the 400,000+ immigrants on AIMA’s waiting list.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
