Cape Verdean Construction Workers in Lisbon (1961–1974): Politics of Ambiguity in the Last Phase of Estado Novo

Abstract In the 1960s and 1970s, Portugal experienced a significant expansion in the field of construction, particularly in public buildings and infrastructures such as the bridge over the River Tagus, the Lisbon underground, and the Olivais housing complex. However, mass recruitment for the colonial war (1961–1974) and emigration to Europe led to a shortage of manpower in Portugal. To complete its infrastructure projects, the government encouraged the migration of Cape Verdean men to work in the construction industry. To manage this migratory movement of workers, the government established the Núcleo de Apoio aos Trabalhadores Migrantes Cabo-verdianos (Nucleus of Support for Migrant Workers from Cape Verde) in January of 1971, to ensure adequate living conditions for those arriving from Cape Verde for this purpose. This article explores the ambiguous nature of that governmental tool. The Government appeared to adopt strategies that both supported and discouraged this flow of migrant workers. Thus, this paper examines: (a) how this mediation tool was used to obscure the Portuguese government’s ambivalence towards Cape Verdeans immigration to Lisbon; (b) how its operational methods contributed to the invisibility of the Cape Verdean workers and to the perpetuation of the precariousness of their living conditions.