Trust and solidarity: ministers came to the Algarve to talk to migrants

«I would like to give you a message of confidence and tell you that, for Portugal, your presence in the Algarve and throughout the country is welcome and very important». That was how Eduardo Cabrita, Minister of Internal Administration, addressed, on the morning of Wednesday, April 22, nearly 80 agricultural workers of Asian origin, in the greenhouses of Hubel, in Estiramantens (Tavira).

The government official was accompanied by Maria do Céu Albuquerque, Minister of Agriculture, in an awareness and clarification action, due to Covid-19, aimed at migrant communities.

Sessions of this kind have already taken place in Quarteira, Armação de Pêra or Odemira, in Alentejo. Today it was the turn of the municipality of Tavira and the delegation had the help of two translators, one in Hindi, the other in Nepalese, who were translating the ministers' words.

Around 140 migrants from countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and India work in those Hubel facilities alone.

This is a particularly vulnerable population. Many of these workers live in large agglomerates and in places with poor hygiene conditions, which favors the spread of the virus.

For this reason, “it is so important to reach” these people, considered Eduardo Cabrita. In this fight, said the minister to the immigrants, "your help is essential."

«We want you to continue in the Algarve, with health and safety concerns, for you and for the whole community. Language is not a barrier here – both the High Commission and the SEF have translators, whom they can turn to if they need to,” he explained.

The government official also made known to these workers an important measure, unique at European level, taken by Portugal. Until the 30th of June, an order that regularizes immigrants during the current pandemic is in effect. In other words: those who still have processes pending at the SEF now have a type of temporary residence permit, which allows, for example, access to social support or the National Health Service.

This initiative, acknowledged Eduardo Cabrita, is “very important for the approximately 15 thousand people in the Algarve who are waiting for the full regularization of their situation”.

To journalists, the Ministry of Internal Affairs stressed that it is in these times of social emergency that "the principles of equality and solidarity" must prevail and that citizens waiting to see their situation regularized still have the "same obligations as others ».

“What we want is to get the message out to everyone – a message that health care, social distancing is essential and compatible with the functioning of fundamental economic activities to keep life going,” he said.

In this sense, Maria do Céu Albuquerque, Minister of Agriculture, insisted on "thanking the work" done by these workers, words that deserved applause from the immigrants.

“This is a fundamental process. We do not have the manpower for some temporary work and we need to have specific rules that allow us to welcome foreign labor, maintaining the security of those who are here and those who come to work for agriculture," he said.

Regarding this clarification session, where leaflets were distributed in Hindu, Bengali, Urdu or Nepalese, with the necessary precautions, Maria do Céu Albuquerque said it was “of special importance”.

"There is a responsibility here that has to be assumed by the companies that hire these workers and a commitment with the local authorities and the Government so that all together we continue to promote agriculture", explained the official.

For, he exemplified, «we cannot disconnect plants and animals»… «What we can, yes, is to create conditions to continue an activity that cannot stop and that must continue to feed those who have always fed us».

At Hubel, Tiago Andrade, administrator of this company, guaranteed the Sul Informação that 'all the rules' have been followed. Even on the part of the workers, «there is awareness of this issue, especially after the first cases appeared in Faro».

But have all companies had the same concerns? The minister confessed how, "in everything in life, there are those who are exemplary and others who are not."

Still, so far, “we don't have any records. In fact, when there are complaints, the Working Conditions Authority has to do its job right away. If this is essential in all phases of our life, now it is particularly important to do this reinforcement», he said.

“We are working with the confederations and with the sector. We know that we are going to enter an important phase, which are harvesting and sowing, where labor comes from abroad and we are creating a set of rules that we have to distribute among companies so that they commit to best practices», he reinforced.

«Today, the documents that are already available for companies to work on this matter have the rules of hygiene, distance at work and transport. In what we know are housing – which are most often the responsibility of companies – there has to be a great effort, where the Government does not resign and where municipalities also have a fundamental role in ensuring that agriculture continues to produce for domestic consumption and exports,” he added.

As for António Pina, mayor of Olhão and AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, addressing the migrants, he took the opportunity to leave «two messages that I hope you will fix».

The first: “May the coming of all these entities not frighten you. We are not here concerned with sending you home».

The second: «we are concerned with the information that is given to you, but for the success of your stay in Portugal, your behavior must be the most correct, at work and in society. When they go shopping or anywhere else, they cannot go in groups. Whatever your behavior is, the rest of Portuguese society will look at you».

Eduardo Cabrita, Minister of Internal Administration, ended with a message of hope. «With these rules, all together, we, you, will overcome this crisis and continue to work for agriculture, for the development of the Algarve and for a better life for you and your families».

This initiative was also attended by Ana Paula Martins, president of the Chamber of Tavira, José Apolinário, secretary of state who is the coordinator of the fight against Covid-19 in the Algarve region, Cristina Gatões, director of the Foreign and Borders Service (SEF ), and Sónia Pereira, High Commissioner for Migration.

Photos: Pedro Lemos | Sul Informação