André Costa Jorge Urges a Broader Perspective on Immigration Issues
André Costa Jorge, the Director General of the Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), recently expressed concerns about Portugal’s attractiveness to skilled immigrants. He believes this issue warrants a broader societal debate. According to him, skilled immigrants are often paid substantially less than native workers despite sometimes holding higher qualifications from their home countries.
Immigration Challenges in Portugal
Costa Jorge highlighted that many skilled immigrants work in low-skilled professions. Several factors contribute to this situation, including a cumbersome consular network and bureaucratic challenges. Politically imposed restrictions by the government further exacerbate the situation, resulting in a decline in immigration flows to Portugal.
OECD Report Insights
The OECD recently reported a 2% decrease in the number of immigrants in Portugal. In contrast, there was a 9% increase in job entries for the country. Costa Jorge emphasized the importance of addressing Portugal’s low birth rate. He argued that increasing the quality of the workforce is essential for economic growth.
- Decrease in immigrants: 2% according to OECD
- Increase in job entries: 9%
- Portugal’s low birth rate: a pressing concern
Need for a Dynamic Immigration Perspective
To attract skilled immigrants, a dynamic rather than restrictive approach to immigration policies is essential. Costa Jorge pointed out that there is a competitive global market for skilled labor. Other countries are actively making their environments more appealing for skilled workers.
Unfortunately, Portugal has much to improve in attracting and utilizing skilled immigrants effectively. Costa Jorge also lamented the high number of young Portuguese leaving the country, a topic he feels does not receive adequate attention in public discourse.
Calls for Policy Change
The lack of political will to address these matters, coupled with insufficient media coverage, poses challenges. Costa Jorge believes that reports from organizations like the OECD should play a critical role in shaping public policy on immigration.
