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Unemployment amongst immigrants doubles The number of unemployed immigrants enrolled in jobs centres across Portugal has risen by almost 50 per cent in one year, and during the first two months of 2009 the rise was 27 per cent, according to the Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP). By the end of February this year there were 30,754 immigrants ‘signed on’ at in job centres, 10,000 more than for the same month of 2008, when there were 20,754 jobless immigrants. During the first two months of this year the number of immigrants signing up at job centres rose by 27 per cent, an increase of 6.551 per cent in comparison to December 2008. Figures from IEFP indicate that immigrants represent 6.5 per cent of Portugal’s unemployed, which by the end of February totalled 469,299 people, a rise of 17.7 per cent in comparison to the same month of 2008. According to IEFP, Brazilians are the worst affected by unemployment (8,722 unemployed Brazilians in Portugal), followed by Ukrainians (4,751), Cape Verdeans (3,350) and Angolans (3,142). Meanwhile, in related news, since the beginning of this year 90 foreigners have asked for official help in returning to their countries of origin, which is, according to the International Migration Organization (OIM), “three times more” than this time last year. The foreigners asked to benefit from a programme that helps immigrants return to their homelands. Mónica Gorracci, head of the OIM, told the Lusa News Agency that 70 to 80 per cent of these were Brazilian. Brazilians currently make up Portugal’s largest foreign community. She said, “These are people who have lost their jobs because of the economic crisis, and, instead of staying in Portugal to be exploited, they return to their home countries”. Mónica Gorracci further explained that OIM pays for the immigrant’s transport home, and, “in cases of greater vulnerability”, even contributes financially to re-integrate the individual. This programme is co-financed by the European Union and the Portuguese Government. Last week, The Portugal News revealed that the Minister of Finance, Teixeira dos Santos, had warned Parliament that the biggest problems facing Portugal because of the current economic crisis are “tension” and “serious social problems”, brought on by the rise in unemployment. The Minister explained that despite the Government’s best efforts in improving the nation’s qualifications Portugal “still has an active population that compares unfavourably with its main counterparts” regarding education. “It is a worry that this drop in economic activity, with the implications that it will have concerning unemployment, will create very delicate social situations. We need solutions that demand a very special type of attention, because with unemployment Portugal could witness a worsening of serious social problems”, he warned. The Organisation for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD) has predicted that unemployment within the Euro zone could reach 10.1 per cent, with Portugal also cautioned that jobless rates could potentially reach double figures in the next 12 months.
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