The measure starts at the beginning of July. Emigrants or Luso-descendants may receive more than 6,500 euros in support to return and work in Portugal. The IEFP expects to spend $10 million.
The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) promised to provide support of up to 6,536.40 euros to emigrants or Luso-descendants who return to work in Portugal. The initiative should start at the beginning of July. Until the end of 2019 alone, the EFTF expects to spend €10 million on this measure, the Return Programme, approved in March.
Return Program Initiative
There are 1,500 people who can apply to the Return Program. In addition to the support of more than 6,500 euros that each of them can receive if they return to mainland Portugal to work, these emigrants can also see their travel expenses subsidised.
More than 40,000 Portuguese Emigrate per Year
Since the 2010 crisis, the number of Portuguese who immigrate annually has exceeded 40,000 people.
At a time when there is a shortage of labour in the national market, programmes to support the return of emigrants are welcome, despite the limited impact of the measure (1500 emigrants).
The lack of competitiveness of the Portuguese market vis-à-vis other European countries in attracting skilled or technical labour does not help its implementation and the success of the measure either.
Emigrants having difficulty returning
In declarations to the public, Miguel Cabrita foresaw some resistance from the Portuguese community across the border to join the initiative.
"Migrant return programmes are complex programmes, they even have a history of difficulties."
"Migrant return programmes are complex programmes, they even have a history of difficulties. In the same way that people don't take the decision to leave lightly, returning is not an immediate thing either," he explained. In this way, the IEFP intends to work on measures to encourage and support emigrants to return in a medium-term perspective.
Source: Observer
