"Portugal tightens migrant labor law amid populist pressure," 2 October 2024

Portugal has suddenly and unexpectedly ended the practice of allowing illegally arrived migrant workers to stay in the country while applying for a work permit. According to Deputy Minister Rui Armindo Freitas, who is in charge of immigration policy, this change is simply an alignment with European regulations.

But representatives of non-governmental organizations see it as a concession to right-wing populists who rally against immigrants. They argue that it mostly highlights the disorganized state of Portugal's immigration policy — at least until now.

Freitas says the possibility of entering the country first and then obtaining the necessary papers attracted many illegal migrant workers. This loophole needed to be closed quickly, he told DW...

Portugal's migrant laborers usually come without the necessary documentation. While often waiting years for their residence permits, they have so far been allowed to work and pay taxes and social security contributions... A welcome side effect of the new regulation, says Freitas, is that it would prevent migrants from falling victim to human trafficking networks.

Alberto Matos from the nonprofit Solidariedade Imigrante (Solim), an organization that defends immigrants' rights...[told DW] "If these immigrants can no longer legalize their status after arrival, the number of undocumented migrants will only continue to rise,"...