Cost of living worsens difficulties of Lusophone immigrants

Cyntia de Paula, vice president of Casa do Brasil de Lisboa, states that the increase in cost of living affects the immigrant community as well as the Portuguese, but with more serious consequences, since many immigrants are in a situation of greater vulnerability, with precarious jobs, lower wages and less contractual security.

For the person responsible, the problem of housing is clearly what more seizures cause not only because of high prices, but also because of the increased demands placed on migrants, such as the payment of various rents and high guarantees, as well as the presentation of a guarantor.

Difficulties that have led many Brazilians to leave Lisbon and Porto towards other cities, such as Braga, Aveiro and Leiria, in an attempt to reduce the cost of living.

Cyntia de Paula also notes that there are more and more Brazilians with high professional qualifications who, despite this, cannot enter the labor market and end up looking for opportunities in other countries.

“The voluntary return does not just go through the cost of living. Many people have stayed in a legal limbo and cannot regulate themselves and, in these cases, can opt for return,” he said, not to mention that there is no data to quantify this phenomenon.

The financial pressure on immigrants is also reported by Carla Dourado, from the Deco Financial Protection Office, who warns of credit resorting situations to cope with current expenses, including supermarket purchases and rent payments, which can lead to over-indebtedness.

In addition to the high rental prices, often much higher than the minimum wage, immigrants face increased difficulties in obtaining housing, especially when they have just arrived in Portugal and have no guarantor.

“It’s not uncommon for them to say that they took a credit to pay a six-month bond,” Lusa said.

Carla Dourado also drew attention to the difficulties of recognition of professional qualifications. Many immigrants have qualifications that would allow them to access better paid jobs, but, due to the slow process of recognition of diplomas, they end up accepting wages below their qualifications, he explained.

The lack of documents or a valid residence permit may also hinder access to employment and lead to the acceptance of work without a contract and with lower wages.

“They are in a completely vulnerable situation,” the lawyer warns.

In its assessment, Portugal's choice involves a difficult balance: on the one hand, the absence of language barriers facilitates arrival and integration; on the other hand, financial and administrative difficulties can make permanence unsustainable.

Carla Dourado says that there are cases, especially in Brazilian communities, in which immigrants begin to question the decision to stay in Portugal, because they consider that the return may allow them a more empty life.

In African communities, family responsibilities and the need to send money to the countries of origin lead immigrants to prefer to endure difficult conditions to stay in Portugal.

Ednilson Gilberto dos Santos, president of the Guineense Association of Social Solidarity, describes the situation as “catastrophic”, referring that the association, which received daily between 20 and 25 people, now registers almost twice as many requests for help.

In addition to the difficulties of access to housing, users present complaints related to health. Many have no follow-up by a medical board and, in case of an accident at work, they end up being “abandoned” by the employer or insurance companies, according to the person responsible.

With regard to mobility to other countries, Ednilson Gilberto dos Santos explains that only those who have the regularized document situation can emigrate more easily in search of better wages, particularly to France, Switzerland or Luxembourg. Those waiting for regularization tend to remain in Portugal, hoping to find work and improve living conditions.

The person responsible considers that the situation in Guinea-Bissau also discourages the return.

“They prefer to stay and survive in the expectation of getting better in Portugal. It is always more complicated the return of hands shaking ", stresses.

Ilidia Colina Veracruz, known as “Fatinha”, former president and secretary-general of the Mén Non Association, which represents women from São Tomé and Príncipe in Portugal, says that “needs have increased greatly” due to the rise in the cost of living.

The person responsible even points out that many people no longer resort to association due to accessibility, distance and transport costs.

Fatinha also points to a “giant reduction” of donations during campaigns to collect goods, especially food and clothing.

“ Before, people were more sensitive and now they're more withdrawn. Lack is almost general ", says.

Vitorina Gamelas, of the Angola Viva association in Diaspora, identifies integration as one of the main difficulties of Angolan immigrants in Portugal, along with obstacles in access to work and housing.

To help find accommodation, the association maintains a database with houses and rooms available for rental and seeks to establish contact with landlords, explaining the situation of the candidates and trying to facilitate access.

Timothy Macedo of the Association Immigrant Solidarity pointed to changes in the migration flows of the Lusophone communities. The Santomians, who traditionally emigrated less, are arriving in more numbers, especially young people who come to study, although there are also economic motivations, exemplified.

The responsible also mentions an increase in the presence of Mozambicans, which associates, among other factors, the change in the situation in the country and insecurity in some regions.

As for Angolans, it distinguishes very different economic situations, since some people have high financial resources and arrive in Portugal through gold visas, a regime that favors those who have more money, particularly in access to housing.