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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Portugal Legalizes 46,000 Ukrainian Illegal Laborers

29 January, 2002 - 00:00

Last year’s campaign against the labor black market in Portugal culminated in Portuguese authorities officially registering some 130,000 illegal immigrants mostly employed in construction, reports the BBC news service. Portuguese government representative Inacio Mota da Silva announced that after the Portuguese government imposed severe penalties for employing illegal immigrants, almost 18,000 small construction companies wished to register their employees. Portuguese authorities have issued employment permits to over 46,000 Ukrainian citizens in the twelve-month period since January 2001. Incidentally, Ukrainians accounted for the biggest fraction in the Portuguese illegal workforce. All illegal laborers who present an employment contract and social security payments vouchers will be issued a permit to stay in Portugal for one year. This permit can be extended on a yearly basis, with the maximum term not to exceed five years. Last year the Greek authorities opted for a similar procedure with respect to illegal laborers. It is expected that Spain will also legalize its illegals, inclusive of Ukrainians, who have not otherwise broken the law.

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