WORK PERMITS

Members of EU countries do not need a work permit to take up employment in Portugal, and do not need to register with the Ministry of Labour. You will be treated on a par with Portuguese nationals. However, you do need to adhere to the regulations governing Residency (see table on page 73) and you require a formal work contract on the same basis as for Portuguese workers. In addition, you need to make sure you are registered for the Caixa (National Insurance). See later.

Another thing to bear in mind is that, despite the lifting of employment restrictions and the theoretical policy that any EU national can take up work wherever they wish, the application procedure for any job will be as it is in one’s own country, and within some companies preference may still be given to Portuguese nationals. You will always stand a much better chance of work if you have at least a working knowledge of the language. Rules for non-EU nationals are more stringent and need checking at your nearest consulate.

Information, in Portuguese, on these issues is available on the website of the Foreigners Dept.www.sef.pt. You can also download a Residency application form in Portuguese or English.

LOOKING FOR WORK

Your search for employment may begin in the UK, by scouring papers such as the Times Educational Supplement, the Guardian Education section, for teaching positions, or by contacting organisations dealing solely with jobs abroad, again often advertised in journals. If, on the other hand, you have already landed in Portugal and have decided to try your luck, the following suggestions may help your search:

• English periodicals such as The News, APN, Algarve Resident, wherein you will find a selection of jobs from teaching to secretarial, to advertising and sales.
• Portuguese journals such as Diário de Notícias, Correio da Manhã; of course the majority of these jobs will be for Portuguese companies, with some multinationals or language schools also advertising.
• Job agencies, especially in the larger cities you may find multinational agencies, such as Manpower in Lisbon (www.manpower.pt), who act just as they would in the UK, so it’s a good idea to have copies of CVs and references, and make a personal contact if possible. More than anything they will have an abundance of secretarial work. You will also find smaller agencies locally in the Algarve.
• ‘On spec’ enquiries – you can try hawking your wares, by writing on spec to hotels/businesses/organisations, asking about potential work; try to follow this up with a meeting with the manager (gerente) or (director/a), as often letters tend to be pushed aside initially.
• Asking around – be prepared to use up a bit of shoe leather and have the nerve to ask on the spot for work. This can often be effective with manual labour. Use any contacts you have and get them to ask around for you as well.
• Place ads yourself – in papers, bar noticeboards, in shops and so on.
• Portuguese job centres (centro de emprego) – most towns have an office, operating in a similar way to UK-run ones, with job ads on notice boards and clerks to help you. It is difficult if you speak no Portuguese, but you may at least get a few ideas and some advice on training possibilities. The local/regional telephone directory will list your nearest centre, or your Câmara will be able to inform you. There are Regional Delegations (Delegçã Regional) in:
  • – Algarve (Faro) Tel: 289-890-100
  • – Alentejo (Évora) Tel: 266-760-500
  • – Lisbon/Vale do Tejo (Lisbon) Tel: 213-307-400
  • – Centro (Coimbra) Tel: 239-860-800
  • – Norte (Porto) Tel: 226-159-200
• Websites – the following sites are also worth having a look at for work ideas, in addition to those belonging to international companies:
  www.manpower.pt
  www.net-empregos.com
  www.eurojobs.com
  http://jobs.escapeartist.com/Openings/Portugal
  http://superemprego.sapo.pt/pt/index_emprego.htm
  www.bilateral.biz

UK OR PORTUGUESE COMPANY?

With the advent of EU regulations concerning non-nationals working, the range of jobs has widened significantly. Before, the strict laws on work permits and tax problems meant that choice was rather limited, and often involved an element of illegal movement. Now non-nationals have the same rights as Portuguese nationals to employment, as is the general case throughout the EU member states. However, this doesn’t mean to say you should expect to walk into any job you like, and without any knowledge of the language, you will have difficulty.

UK companies

Maybe working for a company whose name you recognise would make you feel more secure, and indeed, you may have been sent out from the UK to take up a position within a Portuguese branch of your own employer. Whichever, it seems comforting to be within the clutches of a household name. You will find however, that most of the Portugal-based branches are run by a management team of Portuguese nationals, most of the work is conducted in their language, and you soon have to learn it to fit in adequately.

Portuguese companies

They could be liable to have more bias towards their own nationals when offering work, although now there should be an equal opportunity, that of the best man/woman. You may be considered an asset, being a native-English speaker, but again it cannot be emphasised enough that with little knowledge of their language, your choice of job will still remain very limited.

TEACHING

If you intend to stay long term in Portugal, then the chances of your finding teaching work are considerably better than for fleeting visitors looking for a few Euros to ‘tide them over’. Obviously, very much depends on the subject you offer and your qualifications and experience; however, you will always find some establishments willing to take on non-qualified teachers, especially for EFL (English as a foreign language).

Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)

The number of English language schools is on the increase and a scan through the Yellow Pages under Escolas/Institutos de Línguas, will give you a lead to follow up. Most are Portuguese-run, despite their very English names, such as Oxford/Cambridge school, and usually the best approach is the direct one. Try to have copies of CVs/diplomas with you and try visiting a few places enquiring for possible work. You will often be told of coming work or may arrange an interview, and you can leave your details with a relevant person. Alternatively, a letter-run to a dozen or so schools may set the ball rolling, but don’t expect instant replies. Many schools take on non-diploma holders if they are short-staffed, and your general appearance and attitude appears positive. TEFL work is always advertised in all the English daily and weekend papers, and can be arranged before you leave the UK. Two excellent publications are: the EL Gazette, published monthly and listing world-wide vacancies, and the ELT Guide published annually. Tel: (020) 7255 1969. Have a look also at the British Council website: www.britishcouncil.org

If you have no luck with official teaching, an ad in the local paper/school noticeboard/corner shops, advertising private lessons will usually come up with some work. I once hit a town with small hand-outs printed on a word processor, even sticking them inside telephone kiosks, which provided interest. But do be careful where you place them; ask permission if applicable. If you can, ask around for the going rate, but be prepared to charge less than UK prices if you want to secure some pupils. For a comprehensive guide to teaching English, check out Teach English as a Foreign Language (How To Books).

Other subjects

This work is harder to come by. Up until recently, non-nationals could not work in a state school, and even visiting lecturers sometimes found it difficult to cut through the tremendous red tape. Now with the EU changes, things are set to be different. However, don’t count on a job in the Portuguese system as a foregone conclusion, as the process to be accepted will still take time. Your best bet if you are a teacher looking for work is to try your luck at some of the International schools, both British and American. A comprehensive list of these is included in Chapter 11 on education and in Useful Contacts, and further details can be obtained from the British Council or by looking at the website: http://the-nets.net

If you can, write to the schools before you go to Portugal explaining your background and your interest in their school. You will find that it’s then easier to arrange an interview on arrival if the school has had time to digest your material. As most schools strictly follow a recognised curriculum it can be difficult to arrange work if you are not qualified; however, they may need stand-in teachers for a while, and some schools are venturing into evening classes for parents which could provide you with an opening. These still have to prove their viability, especially on the Algarve, where the emphasis outside school is very much a non-educational one.

Do be cautious, though, in accepting work from schools without checking out their own background. A read through the warnings at the end of this chapter and that on education will show you that things can go disastrously wrong if you make a bad choice. You should be able to obtain a list of recognised International Schools from the European Council of International Schools. Tel: (01730) 268244, email: ecis.@ecis.org

FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES

If you don’t want to be tied to a particular job or location, doing freelance work may be an attractive option; however, all will depend very much on your field of work and skills.

Journalism

As a journalist/writer/photographer you can try hawking your services round the English-language publications, many of which are situated in the Algarve. The likes of papers such as The News/APN/ Algarve Resident, and glossy magazines such as Algarve Gazette and the Algarve Magazine are all open to suggestions, but you may find the same old names appearing across the board, and authors jealously guarding their patch. The quality of journalism is sometimes not very high, so don’t expect to use it as a stepping stone into the cut-throat world of reporting. Pay averages about £70-80 per 1000 words. If you speak the lingo and have a small portfolio with you, you could try the Portuguese publications, but again, competition is tough.

Other possibilities

People have set themselves up as:

• sign-writers/poster designers/golf club artists
• computer consultants/IT support
• translators/interpreters
• typists
• home-helps/handypersons
• sports instructors.

In fact, if you have a car, with a bit of publicity, there is no end to the choices. For details of your tax position as a self-employed person see the next chapter.

JOBS IN AGRICULTURE

Portugal isn’t one of the European countries that people immediately head for with the idea of fruit-picking or harvesting as a means of working their stay there. In most books on European agricultural work Portugal is conspicuous by its absence. This is probably due to the fact that although a great deal of land is agricultural, the communities who work that land involve everybody available, so not much opportunity arises for outsiders. On top of this, farming people have little enough money to spend on their families let alone to hire itinerant workers. The farming situation is very difficult at the moment, and many farms are left abandoned, their owners having departed to try to find a living elsewhere.

In the wealthier, wine growing districts of Northern Portugal, the Minho/Douro areas, you may find some work picking grapes. The grape harvest or vindímia takes place in the autumn. You could try writing first to some of the well-known port wine companies, asking for assistance or try approaching some of the larger quintas (estates) and enquiring. Pay will be minimal, but you will always be given shelter and food. Work is laboriously hard, so you should be fit and hardy. The rewards in companionship are great as the Portuguese work hard but also know how to relax afterwards. The Portuguese Wine Institute has its own website at: www.ivv.pt

Other people have successfully answered ads placed by ex-pats in publications such as Organic Gardening journal and gardening newsletters, asking for help in finding employment.

The land (a terra) is vitally important to the Portuguese and working on it should bring you in closer contact with their true character.

VOLUNTEER WORK

An alternative way to work on the land if that is what you really enjoy. Work camps may be short (2-3 weeks) or up to 6 months, and you will most likely need to pay your own transport and pocket money, but food and lodgings are provided. Try the following organisations.

• Central Bureau for exchange visits. Tel: (020) 7389 4004.
• UK agricultural colleges, some have Portugal-UK exchanges and may be able to help.
• ATEJ Associação de Turismo Estudantil e Juvenil, R. Miguel Bombarda 425, 4000 Oporto.
• Companheiros Construtores, R. Pedro Monteiro, 3-1°, Coimbra.
• FAOJ Fundo de Apoio aos Organismos Juvenis, R. Duque de Avila 137, 1097 Lisboa Codex.
• Turicoop, R. Pascoal de Melo 15-1° Dto., 1100 Lisboa.

CASUAL/PART- OR FULL-TIME WORK

The kind of employment you look for will no doubt depend on the following factors:

• how long you intend to stay there
• where you intend to stay
• what your skills/expertise are
• if you have a family to support
• your outgoing payments for accommodation/food/bills.

Casual

This type of work is ideal for anyone with no firm plans as to their time/location. It isn’t too easy to come across, and usually involves a lot of asking around, often paying in the form of food or accommodation. The places to ask are restaurants for kitchen work, hotels for general portering, large villas for cleaning and handy jobs or pool cleaning, larger stores and holiday complexes. You may be able to get leaflet distribution work.

You are more likely to find this kind of work in the tourist regions, but you might just be able to work your way around the whole country, but do expect difficulties in the remote country regions (although no Portuguese would turn a hungry visitor away from their door).

Part-time

Students, housewives, or anyone needing a little extra money may find work in supermarkets, teaching, setting up children-watch groups, restaurants, or offices (reception/secretarial). Some help can be found from the few job agencies, but again, asking around is essential and unless you have a command of the language you will be mainly restricted to the holiday spots.

Full-time

If you haven’t already arrived in Portugal by means of a company relocation but are seeking a permanent job, your procedure will be the same as at home – employment agencies, direct contact with companies, asking around, and selling your skills in a market-place of equally eager potential employees. Working full time involves a different working day, correct business etiquette and complete declaration of earnings and deductions, so be familiar with the system (see tax section on page 120).