The Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, said on the 27 March that the "Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labor Migration" should be signed next week, stressing that it is not a "green light for immigration".

"The content of this agreement is concluded and the essential thing is that we are not creating a green lane for immigration. This Government closed the wide open door that existed with expressions of interest under which people tried to settle in Portugal, submitting requests from 440 thousand people", he highlighted.

"We will also provide good news in the coming weeks about the completion of the regularisation process ," he added.

On the 26 March, business confederations interviewed by Lusa applauded the cooperation protocol for labor migration, which "guarantees speed for companies" , with the "sensitive point" being the obligation to guarantee access to accommodation.

At issue is the "Cooperation Protocol for Regulated Labor Migration", which aims to speed up the hiring of foreign citizens with employment contracts and which will be signed with employers' confederations next on 1 April, as confirmed by the president of IEFP, one of the signatory entities.

According to the protocol, to which Lusa had access, the granting of visas "must occur within 20 days from the day the applicant is seen at the consular post" and provided that the legal requirements are met, namely the existence of an employment contract, health and travel insurance, among others.