Cape Verdean businessmen are already considering the possibility of importing labor in view of the departure of young people abroad, especially to Portugal, a business leader told Luce on Saturday.
The president of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Cape Verde (AJEC), Lenina Mendes, said that “all sectors” are suffering from the outflow of workers abroad, and that the “shortage” is felt more in construction and tourism.
“Who knows, to solve this problem the country will have to import labor,” the businessman noted, suggesting training for young people involved in crime as another solution.
“We have a lot of young people with addictions who don’t work. They just work to feed their addiction,” he said, noting that they need to be trained to be a “productive force” in the country.
“AJEC is not against the departure of these young people. This flight has been massive in recent times and therefore has a negative impact on the development of the Cape Verdean economy in the short, medium and long term,” he said.
As an example, he pointed out that in many places inland on the island of Santiago there are fewer and fewer young people engaged in agriculture, which is “the driving force and source of livelihood for several families.”
“There are no people to work because they are abroad. This really makes it difficult for companies to be sustainable here in Cape Verde,” he said, explaining that young people who are still in the country also no longer want to do certain types of work.
“We have young people who have been living in Cape Verde since their parents emigrated and dropped out of school. They don’t even finish 10th or 12th grade because they dream of living abroad. So, they don’t work, and their parents are creating a parasite here because every month they send barrels, boxes, food, everything,” he noted.
“There are many bets on agriculture, on fishing, but where do people fish? Do young people want to fish? Who goes fishing? Mostly, these are people who already live together,” he asked.
The official defended the focus on skills to prepare young people “so they can compete with people from other places”, arguing that companies should provide better conditions and that the government should look at improving health care and transport.
The business leader also said that the country’s fundamental problems need to be addressed to boost the economy and retain the youth.
“Here in Cape Verde there are opportunities, many public policies, but they need to be implemented. We cannot stop young people from emigrating, we need to create conditions so that those who stay here have a decent salary, working conditions to work and complete their work,” he said.
A year ago, Cape Verdean Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva acknowledged that there were young people leaving the country in search of better opportunities, but he rejected the idea of mass emigration and called for a study of the phenomenon.
According to data from the consular service of the Portuguese Embassy in Praia, provided to Lusa, from January to the end of November 2023, Cape Verdeans requested 12,549 long-term visas (more than 90 days) to Portugal, of all types, of which 11,702 were issued.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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