In a statement, the union said that “the measure that the Government wants to take in relation to the arrival of immigrants to the construction sector, which needs more than 120,000 workers to build major road, rail, airport, bridge, hospital, housing and school infrastructures, among others, encourages uncontrolled immigration and then mafia networks/labour recruiters take the workers’ passports and place them in places with no quality of life”.

This week, the Government signed with business associations the “Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labour Migration”, which aims to speed up the hiring of foreign citizens, as long as the requirements are met, namely the existence of an employment contract, health and travel insurance or “access to adequate accommodation”, among others.

The union believes it should be involved in this process. Speaking to Lusa, Albano Ribeiro, president of the union structure, recalled that he has “contacts with the unions of these countries where the workers come from” and that this would be important for implementing this measure in a safer and more appropriate way for the workers.

For Albano Ribeiro, the union is the one that “knows the situation on the ground best”, pointing out irregularities such as the non-payment of salaries or the “inhumane conditions” in which these workers live.

Therefore, the union advocates “the creation of a Commission formed by the Government, the Construction Sector Business Association (AICCOPN) and the union”, according to the same note, highlighting that “only in this way will labour and social dignity be given to foreign workers” who arrive in the country.