Azores needs international workers

… to help revive tourism

SchengenVisaInfo.com reports that the Azores needs a large number of international workers.

The devastating situation caused by the spread of the Coronavirus and its new variants brought to light the need for international workers to come into this country in order to fill in the labour shortage gaps and help the tourism sector recuperate from the profound financial losses.

In this regard, the Conseran Company has built a new canning factory on the island of Pico, in the Azores of Portugal, where its owner José Freitas states that he must recruit foreigners to ensure the filling of the 130 necessary jobs.

He said that so far there have been  55 people registered to work in this area, all former workers at Cofaco (the company that closed the factory in Pico in 2018), adding that now the company will have to look for workers abroad.

“Conseran – Conservas do Atlântico Norte, is investing around €15 million in the construction of a new factory for the processing of tuna, but also of other species such as mackerel and squid, but it is experiencing difficulties in ensuring the labour needed to work at cruising speed,” José Freitas also added.

As he explains, the factory has the capacity to process 25 tons of tons per day. In addition, the businessman is aiming to build facilities so that he can bring people from abroad to work in this factory in a dignified manner.

According to the Portugal News, the president of the Government of the Azores, José Manuel Bolieiro, has also evaluated the option for foreign workers, who visited the country, accompanied by other members of the executive. Meanwhile, the new Conseran factory, which is being built in the parish of Bandeiras, in the municipality of Madalena do Pico, should be completed in early 2023.

Previously, Portugal announced that it will make it easy for citizens of eight Portuguese-speaking countries to move to Portugal after the country eased visa rules for them in order to address labour shortages in several key industries.

As a result, citizens will have the opportunity to be involved in industries such as administrative service, Information, and Communication Technology (ICT), accommodation service, construction, health, and social services, and more.

In addition, on September 1, the Council of Ministers of Portugal decided to amend the law that defines the procedures and conditions for the entry, stay, departure, and departure of foreigners from the national territory of Portugal for citizens of Portuguese-speaking countries.

Commenting on these changes, the government has emphasised that this action aims to contribute to addressing the labour shortage in the country to revitalise the economy by promoting regular, safe, and regular migration channels.

In this regard, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ana Catarina Mendes added that starting from September, visas to enter Portugal for citizens of any CPLP member state must be issued immediately by the consular services, unless there is a deportation order or a ban on entry in the Schengen Area.