The Backside of Eden: Poor Workers of the Rich Algarve

When Portugal is mentioned, sun, sand, magnificent beaches and, of course, the Algarve region, which is considered the tourism capital of the country, immediately come to mind. From the outside, everything is shiny, luxury holidays, expensive hotels... But there is also the other side of the coin. The latest street demonstrations in Faro once again revealed how the wheels turning behind this tourism paradise oppress the local people.

Rising Rebellion in the Streets

The other day, a very crowded protest was held in Faro upon the call of the Algarve Trade Union Federation (USAL). Who wasn't among the hundreds of people gathered in front of João de Deus Secondary School? healthcare workers, hotel and tourism sector workers, retail workers, retirees and even young people who are worried about their future...

While the cortege was walking from Avenida 5 de Outubro towards Rua de Santo António, the surrounding tourists watched in amazement, and some locals who came out of the windows of their houses reacted to the situation. Because there is a clear contradiction: In a region where millions of tourists flock and earn billions of euros, people living there 365 days a year have difficulty meeting their basic needs.

"We Do Not Accept Becoming Poor by Working"

What the action coordinator and teacher Catarina Marques said actually summarizes the situation in its clearest form. Unregistered employment, precarious contracts and sometimes completely undocumented work in the region have reached their limits.

Everyone on the street knows that the problem is not limited to tourism, but also that public services have collapsed. The situation of the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) in particular is clear; Because there is not enough investment, healthcare professionals are forced to work inhumane hours and in poverty. Moreover, when the privatization of these services came to the agenda, the reactions reached their peak.

They Are Looking for a Way Out of the Housing Crisis and High Inflation

House prices have skyrocketed across the Algarve; The region has become one of the most expensive places in the country. As such, salaries are not enough to pay rent, and people are struggling to make ends meet.

The demands of the union and workers are quite clear:

Increasing general wages by 15% (at least 150 euros for each employee),

Increasing the national minimum wage to 1,050 euros,

Switching to a 35-hour working week without loss of wages,

Linking shift and weekend working conditions to humane conditions.

In short, the people of the Algarve, who say "We must stop being a rich region with poor workers", want their rightful share of the wealth created. Just because the tourism season is bright, no one wants to remain silent as the lives of the people living in that region are plunged into darkness.

Source: Barlavento

Photo Source: Lucas Lopes