Regional Director for Communities and External Affairs Sancho Gomes took the opportunity to meet with Government official José Silva on the final day of an official visit to the island of Jersey for the Portuguese Food Festival. Talk to members of the community, including Madiraan merchants.
According to a press release, the community addressed topics such as Brexit, embassy operations, the cost of living and the labor shortage in the United Kingdom. “Madridans living in the United Kingdom have already overcome the obstacles of Brexit”, Sancho Gomes noted, adding that “the community continues to set an example in terms of full integration and economic contributions to the host country and region”. “.
“I have visited many Madeiran businesses in London and others where most of the workforce is from Madeira. Madeirans really stand out for their work ethic, entrepreneurship and creativity. They are a solid, dynamic and integrated community that brings added value to the economic structure of this host country”, Regional Director considered.
Sancho Gómez also addressed two issues that he says “affects Madirons”: “labour shortage” and “cost of living in England”.
“The lack of labor, a phenomenon affecting all of Europe, led the Madeiran merchants in London to make certain changes, for example, closing establishments twice a week,” he explained.
On the other hand, “Here in England our countrymen have a good average salary. However, like the rest of Europe, the cost of living is high,” he stressed. However, “the assessment our community makes is obviously positive”.
Regarding the Consulate of Portugal in London, Sancho Gomes noted that there is “widespread satisfaction” on the part of the community regarding the work carried out by the recently appointed consul.
“Although there is still some delay in procedures and appointments, the community is satisfied with the dynamism imposed by the new embassy, who has chosen to speed up the procedures and open the embassy doors on Saturdays”, he concluded.
