Democratic social workers (TSD Algarve) organized, on February 1, at Aheta facilities, in Albufeira, a debate dedicated to the theme “Work, Migrations and Professional Qualification: Building the Future of Tourism”. The event brought together a set of specialists and managers of the sector, having been opened by José Carlos Rolo, mayor of Albufeira.
The thematic panel was moderated by Carlos Baía, vice president of TSD Algarve and councilman of the Faro City Council, and was attended by Helder Martins, president of Aheta; Isabel Delgado, Development and Human Director of Zoomarine; Vasco Malta, head of mission of OIM in Portugal; Domingos Lopes, president of IEFP; and Helder Silva, deputy to the European Parliament.
The closing session had interventions by Cristóvão Norte, president of PSD Algarve, and Pedro Roque, Secretary General of TSD.
According to the TSD Algarve, the event aimed to discuss the challenges of the labor market in the region, with a particular focus on the tourism sector, analyzing the role of migrations and the need to reinforce professional qualification in a constantly evolving global context .
Among the main conclusions were the scarcity of labor in tourism, a reality that has been collected with migrant workers, although the lack of affordable housing represents an obstacle to the attraction of new professionals. It was also underlined the importance of ensuring decent conditions for foreign workers, promoting the recognition of their qualifications and competences acquired in countries of origin, as well as the creation of vocational training programs and mentoring initiatives that facilitate their integration into the work market.
Participants also reinforced the need to streamline mobility mechanisms for workers from countries with which Portugal maintains agreements, such as Morocco and Cape Verde, and defended a continuous bet on adapting training programs to market demands, allowing the requalification of workers national and migrants to respond to the rapid transformations of the sector.
The Colloquium also addressed European policies of migration and employment, highlighting the importance of cooperation between the Member States to ensure work mobility and the protection of workers’ rights. The interveners underlined the need for a coordinated strategy to face demographic and economic challenges that affect the European Union.
The event provided a thorough reflection on the integration of migrants into the labor market and the role of professional qualification in the region’s economic growth.
They reaffirm them “their commitment to policies that promote a more inclusive society, where everyone has access to fair and worthy opportunities.”
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