PORTUGAL: NEW POLICY ON IMMIGRATION

The Portuguese government has decided to allow all immigrants in the country to legalise themselves. More than half the requests for legalisation are from Eastern Europe, namely Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia and Romania. Immigrants from these countries are welcome in Portugal, whose population prides itself on being the most hospitable in Europe, being historically a country with a high incidence of emigration. The general attitude among the population is that people from Eastern Europe are welcome. Work is generally limited to civil construction and menial jobs for men and domestic service for women, although obviously there are other opportunities for people with higher qualifications. However, a civil construction worker can earn at least 700 USD (after tax) per month (19,600 roubles) and a domestic servant, with board and lodging, 420 USD per month (11,750 roubles). The official number of immigrants from the CIS is 30,000 but unofficial figures place the number at least three times higher. The workers from these countries are respected in Portugal as being diligent, competent, professional and well-behaved. Portugal is one of the poorer countries in the EU, fighting an eternal battle with Greece to see which country has the “worst classification”, but the climate is agreeable, the people friendly and the opportunities excellent, for those who are not afraid to work.

TIMOTHY BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.RU LISBON