Portugal and Morocco have inked a deal that will allows allow 400 Moroccan workers to travel to Portugal to work in the country’s agricultural sector.
The deal was discussed and announced by the ministers of employment of both countries, Ana Mendes Godinho (Portugal), and Younes Sekkouri (Morocco). A protocol making the deal official is due to be signed tomorrow with the Confederation of Portugal Farmers (CAP). About 400 workers are set to travel to Portugal as soon as this year.
Employment and human rights
“This meeting was very fruitful and allowed us to plan the next step to ensuring “decent jobs” for the arriving workers. The deal is a reflection of the vision that the two countries share about employment and human rights,” said Ana Mendes Godinho.
The minister added that Moroccan workers will have a training period before travelling to Portugal during which they will learn the Portuguese language and culture. Meanwhile, job agencies in Portugal and Morocco will be working together to ensure that Moroccan workers will be integrated into the Portuguese job market with the “best conditions” possible. Ana Mendes Godinho believes the deal poses a “good opportunity” for both countries.
“We decided, together, to move forward with a pilot-project which begins right now, involving 400 employees in agriculture,” said the minister, adding that the deal will be beneficial to all parties. This is a very important moment for Portugal,” said the minister, alluding to the country’s desperate need for workers in sectors ranging from tourism to agriculture.
