The debate generated by Rui Paula’s statements, mentioning that he prefers Nepalese to Portuguese, was quickly transformed into a discussion about Portuguese versus Nepalese.
But that’s not the real question.
The difference is not in nationality.
It’s in the mindset.
Portugal is one of the countries in Europe that has exported the most talent throughout its history. Millions of Portuguese emigrated to France, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Canada and many other destinations. They did this because they were looking for a better life, better wages and more opportunities for their families.
And the truth is simple: many Portuguese people today continue to earn much more money outside of Portugal than they would in their own country.
Therefore, the question should not be why there are foreign workers in Portugal.
The question should be: why are fewer and fewer Portuguese people available to fill certain roles?
The answer is not unique.
There are many extraordinary Portuguese people who remain in the country out of love for their land, their family and their community.
Chef Paula, in a generalist moment, forgot about you in a xenophobic attack. If a Portuguese man arrives at his restaurant asking for a job, what does he do? Ignore and send away?
There are many Portuguese people who work every day. Often under difficult conditions, they support companies, create jobs and move Portugal forward. To these people I leave a sincere hug and a huge thank you.
They are often forgotten in these debates and deserve much more recognition.
But there is also another reality.
There is a part of society that has become accustomed to the constant search for comfort, stability and the absence of risk.
People who do not seek new challenges, who avoid leaving their comfort zone and who often believe that the responsibility for their situation always lies with others: the government, businesspeople, foreigners or the system.
This is precisely where many populist discourses thrive.
They sell the idea that problems always come from outside.
That the culprit is immigrants, globalization or any other external factor.
But the truth is that development always begins within each of us.
I’m not saying everyone should work more hours. I’m not saying that everyone should emigrate. I’m not even saying that everyone should be an entrepreneur.
I’m just saying that we should try to do well what we choose to do.
If someone sweeps a street, however temporarily, if it is, try to find it and do it with pride. If someone waits tables, do so with professionalism. If someone runs a company, let them do so responsibly. The value of the work is not in the position.
It’s in the attitude with which we perform it.
Perhaps one of the biggest problems in modern society is the way many people view work: as a punishment that must be endured until it is time to live.
As if life only happened after five in the afternoon, on the weekend or on vacation.
But life happens every day.
It also happens at work.
It happens in challenges, in learning, in the relationships we build and in the goals we achieve.
Not every day will be good.
Not all jobs will be exciting.
But there is almost always something positive we can find in what we do, something that allows us to grow, learn or contribute.
Having said that, it is also important to recognize an important point.
When public figures claim that certain workers are more available to work than others, there is always a risk that the message will be interpreted the wrong way.
Many workers might hear these statements and conclude that what employers are really looking for are people willing to work longer hours, accept worse conditions, or be paid less for the same work.
This concern is legitimate.
Unfortunately, there are companies and employers that, instead of looking for productivity, are only looking for cheap and available labor to accept conditions that others would refuse.
And when this happens, the problem is not the nationality of the workers.
It’s in the management model and the conditions offered.
I am not saying that this is the case with Rui Paula. I will not fall into the ignorance of generalizing and attacking. I don’t know the reality of your companies or the conditions you offer your employees.
But it is important to understand that statements of this type can be interpreted this way by many people.
The challenge for any modern company should not be finding someone to work more hours for the same salary.
It must be about creating an environment where people want to work, grow, learn and be rewarded for the value they generate.
Hard work is a virtue.
Exploitation is not.
Ambition does not mean accepting any condition. It means seeking to evolve, create value and be fairly rewarded for it.
Therefore, when we discuss topics such as immigration, lack of labor or productivity, we must avoid falling into simplifications.
Not all entrepreneurs want to exploit workers. Not all workers refuse effort. And not all problems in the job market can be explained by a lack of desire to work.
The real debate is not between the Portuguese and Nepalese.
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