Portugal AIMA agency operations and labor disputes

In late September 2026, the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) held the third ‘AIMA em Rede’ Regional Meeting in Sines. The event focused on improving migrant integration through better coordination between central and local government, addressing challenges such as language acquisition, housing, and employment.

By early October, the agency faced internal labor unrest. The Migration Technicians Union (STM) organized a 24-hour national strike scheduled for October 6, involving all contract types. The union is demanding a dedicated technical career path, salary supplements comparable to security forces—specifically the GNR and PSP—for border control duties, and an end to precarious employment for Cultural Mediators. The strike also highlights leadership instability, with workers calling for a renewal of the Board of Directors and clarity regarding the status of AIMA president Pedro Portugal Gaspar, following his departure.

The STM has criticized the government for failing to respond to urgent requests for meetings to discuss professional and remunerative improvements. The industrial action is expected to disrupt services at AIMA service counters and offices across the country, including locations in Funchal.