Key Insights
Portugal has launched the Programa Integrar to support job-seeking migrants through the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP). This initiative offers training, skills recognition, and job search assistance to enhance employment opportunities.
Additionally, Portugal has seen a 24 percent reduction in work visas in mid-2024 compared to the previous year.
The Portuguese government has launched a new program aimed at assisting migrants registered with the National Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP).
In a recent announcement, the European Commission stated that the Programa Integrar is aimed at unemployed individuals, first-time job seekers, and migrants looking to switch careers or access vocational training, as reported by Schengen.News.
The program provides a variety of services, including training, support for skills recognition, and job search assistance. By tackling cultural barriers and enhancing both social and professional skills, Programa Integrar seeks to improve employment prospects for participants through a range of active employment initiatives.
There is a crucial need to embrace and integrate the immigrant population, especially in light of an aging demographic and a shortage of workers in various professional fields and key sectors of the economy.
As part of the initiative, the IEFP will carry out an initial assessment of each participant’s profile, needs, and expectations through a one-on-one interview. This evaluation will aid in developing personalized employment and training plans, as well as identifying any required Portuguese language instruction.
Furthermore, the program will assess and recognize participants’ existing educational and work qualifications, ensuring they are guided to the appropriate equivalence or recognition processes whenever feasible.
Portugal Sees 24% Drop in Work Visas
Following Migration Plan
Since the implementation of the Action Plan for Migration four months ago, Portugal has significantly reduced the number of work visas issued to foreign nationals.
Official data show a 24 percent drop in work visas granted during June, July, and August 2024 compared to the same months in 2023. Specifically, Portugal issued 1,266 work visas during this period in 2024, down from 1,666 the previous year.
Despite this recent decline, figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicate that more work visas were issued from January to August 2024 than in the same timeframe in 2023.
Additionally, authorities have announced that migrant workers who entered the country irregularly will no longer be permitted to stay while applying for work permits. Deputy Minister Rui Armindo Freitas, who oversees immigration policy, noted that these changes are in line with EU regulations. A report from the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) also highlights that the number of non-European immigrants in Portugal has nearly doubled over the past five years.
