The Construction Union has warned about the impact that the new agreement for labor migration could have on the sector, pointing out the possibility of favoring “mafia” and “recruitment” networks and asked to be involved in this process.
In a statement, the union said that “the measure that the government wants to take regarding the arrival of immigrants to the construction sector, which needs more than 120,000 workers to build large infrastructures such as roads, railways, airports, bridges, hospitals, housing and schools, among others, encourages uncontrolled immigration and then mafia networks/labor recruiters take the workers’ passports and place them in places with no quality of life”.
This week, the Government signed the “Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labor Migration” with business associations, which aims to streamline the hiring of foreign citizens, as long as the requirements are met, namely the existence of an employment contract, health and travel insurance or “access to adequate accommodation”, among others.
The union believes it should be involved in this process. Speaking to Lusa, Albano Ribeiro, president of the union structure, recalled that he has “contacts with the unions of these countries where the workers come from” and that this would be important to implement this measure in a safer and more appropriate way for the workers.
For Albano Ribeiro, the union is the one that “knows the situation on the ground best”, pointing out irregularities such as the non-payment of wages or the “inhumane conditions” in which these workers live.
Therefore, the union advocates “the creation of a Commission formed by the Government, the Construction Sector Business Association (AICCOPN) and the union”, according to the same note, highlighting that “only in this way will labor and social dignity be given to foreign workers” who arrive in the country.