Concerns “satisfactorily dealt with”
The strikes by SEF inspectors for Lisbon, Porto, Faro and Madeira airports, where some delays have been experienced, have been called off today, the union of investigators, inspectors and border guards (SIIFF) said. “We have just revoked and lifted the pre- (strike) notices,” SIIFF leader Renato Mendonça told press agency Lusa.
For the union, with the promulgation of the diplomas on the transition of personnel (from SEF) and the creation of APMMA (the Portuguese agency for minorities, migrations and asylum, now renamed AIMA – the agency for integration, migrations and asylum), which also establishes a deadline of October 29 for the transition, means that the reasons for the strike have now been satisfactorily dealt with.
In relation to the strike, a note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa states that he opted for the promulgation of these diplomas “despite the difficulties that the Agency will have to manage – in this initial phase”.
“Seeking continuity in an already very long process, with serious damage to the external image of the country, the President of the Republic promulgated the Government diplomas that proceed to the creation of the Portuguese Agency for Migrations and Asilo, I.P., and which approves the transition regime for workers of the Foreigners and Borders Service”
President concerned with difficulties with new agency
Two diplomas were approved by the Council of Ministers on April 6th. One of the diplomas approves the creation of the Portuguese Agency for Minorities, Migration and Asylum (APMMA), an agency that succeeds the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) and the High Commission for Migrations (ACM) in terms of reception and integration.
In the communiqué of the April 6 meeting of the Council of Ministers, the replacement of SEF and the ACM by the APMMA is presented as “a paradigm shift in the management of migration and asylum in Portugal”.
“The APMMA now ensures that international protection – asylum and subsidiary protection -, temporary protection, integration and reception are managed by only one entity”.
According to the Government, “in this way, in situations of migratory pressure or humanitarian crisis, Portugal will be prepared to respond in a more coordinated and immediate way” to challenges such as human trafficking and labour exploitation, “safeguarding the fundamental rights of migrants and refugees”.
On the same date, the executive approved a decree-law that establishes the transition regime for SEF workers, approved on the same date, “safeguarding career transitions and salary repositioning”, reads the statement.