Jobs for foreigners in downtown São Paulo

Upon seeing the Nossa Senhora da Paz Parish in Liberdade, many foreigners with suitcases and blankets gathered, eagerly anticipating what the day would bring. They wondered if they would finally find work in this new phase of their lives, far from their countries of origin. Most were Haitians, and as one passed the location until reaching the entrance to the service area, the predominant languages ​​heard were French and Creole, the main languages ​​spoken in Haiti.

Representing a company interested in hiring foreign workers, I went to Rua do Glicério to attend a lecture and meet with foreigners, all of whom were properly documented and legally ready for a job opportunity.

On the day of the lecture, last Tuesday (16), 40 foreigners slept at the entrance of the Parish because there was no room in the 110 places made available by Missão Paz at the location. According to social worker Ana Paula Cafeu, who is the mediator of the entity's Work Axis, they do not accept going to the city's shelters because they are afraid, based on testimonies from relatives and friends, who have already suffered robberies from living with drug addicts and homeless people in these environments.

According to Cafeu, 2 Haitians have already been assisted by Missão Paz. Seventeen percent of them have academic training and speak three or more languages. Among them are doctors, professional musicians, engineers, accountants, many working as waiters, assistants, and in other roles quite different from their qualifications, but which they accept because the belief of the people of that country regarding work is very strong, considering that work means freedom, life, and dignity.

A businessman from São Paulo in the food industry, who employs eight Haitians, gave his testimony during the lecture about the behavior of foreigners. "We dismissed one because the young man didn't adapt to the work; he needed to be more agile. The others requested a meeting with me and apologized for their colleague not meeting their expectations, such is their dignity," he commented.

Many Brazilians are beginning to feel uncomfortable with foreign "competition" and the professional performance of immigrants. "They ruin our image because they work too hard, they are very productive," is one of the comments Ana Paula mentions when talking about her visits to companies that employ immigrants.

After all the explanations from the social worker, it was time to meet with the foreigners and conduct the interviews. In an auditorium with representatives from about 30 Brazilian companies, approximately 300 foreigners – Haitians, Angolans, Congolese, Bolivians, Peruvians, among other nationalities – anxiously awaited the job announcements made by the interpreters. After interviewing about 20 people, we left with three people hired to work in telecommunications networks: one Bolivian, one Peruvian, and one Haitian. One of them is a petroleum engineer, and another speaks four languages.

The Peace Mission is present in 35 countries, and in Brazil it is run by the Scalabrinian Missionaries, welcoming migrants, immigrants, and refugees.