Portugal and India sign agreement on recruiting Indian workers

Portugal signed on 13 September an agreement with India on recruiting citizen workers in our country.

This bilateral instrument will ease legal migration flows for work purposes in a safe and secure way between both countries, setting up the procedures for hiring Indian citizens to perform work in Portugal, under a work agreement. It will apply to recruiting for any work activity, regardless of the term of the work agreement, granting Indian workers all the rights enshrined under Portuguese law.

From the moment it comes into force, and whenever an employer wants to hire an Indian worker, they must inform the Employment and Vocational Training Institute (IEFP) of this intent, which will then pass it on to the Indian authorities. 

These will then initiate a selection process, after which the work agreement is entered into and the worker’s visa granted, allowing him or her to travel to our country for work purposes.

This work mobility agreement was signed during the Indian Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Culture’s visit to Portugal. The Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Francisco André, signed on Portugal’s behalf. 

There will now be a ratifying process and the instrument will come into force 30 days following the last notification.