You're reading: Portugal, Ukraine sign migrant labor pact

KYIV, Feb. 13 (AP) - The foreign ministers of Portugal and Ukraine signed an agreement Thursday allowing Ukrainians to work on a temporary basis in Portugal and receive social benefits.

social benefits.

Ukrainians, many of whom work in construction and agriculture, represent the third-largest immigrant community in Portugal. Some 50,000 Ukrainians work illegally in the country, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.

Lisbon introduced quotas and new selection criteria for foreign laborers last year after a surge of workers from Eastern Europe raised fears about the social and economic burden for the Portuguese.

The two sides signed the agreement Thursday “to end once and for all trafficking in migrant workers,” Portuguese Foreign Minister Antonio Martins da Cruz said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko acknowledged that illegal immigration of Ukrainians was “a very big problem,” and praised the agreement with Portugal as the first of its kind that Ukraine had signed.

Meanwhile, Martins da Cruz promised to assist Ukraine in its bid for deeper integration into Europe.

“I stress once again, Portugal has very positive perceptions of Ukraine’s intentions to enter the European Union and NATO,” he said.