Paulo Santos spoke in Lisbon during the launch of the MOVER Project—Migration, Opportunities and Employment Valorization in Portugal, an initiative by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) aimed at strengthening safe, regular, and orderly labor mobility between Angola, Cape Verde, and Portugal.
Cape Verdean workers have a long tradition of labor migration to Portugal, where one of the largest Cape Verdean diasporas resides.
This demand continues and may even increase according to the goals of the project presented today, considering the “critical shortage of labor” Portugal faces in sectors like hospitality, agriculture, construction, and human care, such as hospitals.
In the construction sector, a labor shortage is also felt in Cape Verde, with several companies struggling to find workers.
“It’s understandable; young people want to study and work in other fields, go to university and follow an academic path. They don’t want to get their hands dirty, be bricklayers or farmers,” Paulo Santos stated.
There are also those who prefer to emigrate, particularly to Portugal, where challenges are numerous but lesser for Lusophone citizens due to longstanding ties and migration traditions.
Ana Rita Marques from the Portuguese Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) cited the issue of competency certificates as an example.
“Even in areas considered less specialized, there are various professional categories. For example, as an electrician, one might have informal training, but formal certification is necessary,” she said.
The delay in issuing documents continues to be a barrier, causing losses in areas like construction—where projects must adhere to schedules—or tourism, with its specific seasons.
The general director of Angola’s National Institute of Employment and Professional Training (INEFOP) pointed out that recognizing the skills of workers opting to work abroad is an ongoing challenge.
Lack of timely information means that many Angolans are unaware of the regulations of the countries they intend to work in and how the process unfolds.
“But the biggest challenge is ethical recruitment and the dignified inclusion of these workers in Portugal, along with their families,” he added.
The MOVER project envisions opening regular channels of labor mobility, preparing migrants for professional and social integration, combating misinformation and fraudulent practices, and involving the private sector in ethical recruitment processes.
Throughout the project, from October 2025 to December 2027, it is expected to support 320 migrants entering Portugal regularly and inform 400 others about employment opportunities.
Present at the launch ceremony, the Deputy Secretary of State for the Presidency and Immigration, Armindo Freitas, stated that “Portugal needs immigrants, regulated immigration, with clear and humanistic rules.”
The MOVER Project is being implemented in partnership with the Portuguese Business Association (AEP), the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP), and the Portuguese Hospitality Association (AHP).
