The majority of agricultural companies in the southwest of Alentejo (83%) consider immigrants to be essential for the success of their activity. Around 73% of companies already have more than half of their jobs filled by immigrants. Nepal leads the nationalities of foreign workers in the sector, followed by India and Thailand.
These are the main conclusions of the second edition of the AHSA Barometer – Association of Horticulturists, Fruit Growers and Florists of the Municipalities of Odemira and Aljezur, which also highlights the challenges and opportunities in the hiring and integration processes, as well as the impact of migration policies on the evolution of the sector. AHSA data reveals, in detail, that 73% of companies already have more than half of their jobs filled by immigrants, with the majority (45%) reporting a proportion above 75%. REGION MENU MAIL NEWSPAPER COVERS The main nationalities represented in southwest Alentejo include workers from Nepal, mentioned by 86% of companies, followed by those from India (48%) and Thailand (41%), reflecting the diversity and contribution of these communities to the sector.
It should be noted that the unavailability of suitable accommodation is highlighted by 62% of respondents, creating difficulties for immigrants to remain in Portugal (59%). In this context, 42% of respondents identify licensing processes as a challenge, while 21% add high investment and leasing costs as issues to consider. These factors have led agricultural companies to adopt an increasingly proactive and interventionist approach in the search for solutions. In this sense, the AHSA Barometer highlights that the majority of companies (35%) have already invested at least 50,000 euros in housing solutions for their migrant workers. It should also be noted that more than 20% of respondents revealed investments of more than one million euros in housing for the employees in question, reflecting the significant commitment to ensuring adequate and sustainable conditions.
On the other hand, according to AHSA members, the main deterrent to hiring national workers in agriculture is the general lack of interest in the activity, highlighted by 83% of respondents, followed by the aging of the local population (28%) and the lack of qualifications (21%).
The AHSA Barometer also assessed the impact of public policies on the management of the agricultural workforce. In this regard, companies identify opportunities for improvement in the Immigration Law, with 55% suggesting the need for greater alignment with the requirements of the agricultural sector, such as protecting workers (48%) or streamlining excessive bureaucracy (31%).