The Migration Workers Union (STM) accuses AIMA and has raised concerns about how the Agency for Integration, Migration, and Asylum (AIMA) is being managed. The union says AIMA is making the same mistakes that caused problems for the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), which it replaced.
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Migration Workers Union Accuses AIMA
One major issue is that many of SEF’s former leaders now hold top positions at AIMA. SEF was closed in October 2023 and AIMA was set up to take over. However, STM argues that AIMA role is broader than SEF and also includes tasks from the former High Commissioner for Migration (ACM).
STM leader Manuela Niza said:
Keeping these people in leadership without a fair selection process is a bad decision
She met with AIMA management last week to represent the union and share its concerns.
Problems With Leadership And Planning
Niza criticized how AIMA was created and called the process badly planned and poorly carried out. She said the leadership structure encourages favoritism and authoritarian behavior.
According to her, no one checked the skills of those chosen for leadership. Instead AIMA adopted the same practices as SEF which many had criticized for not focusing enough on helping immigrants.
Niza said:
There was no competitive hiring process, and people’s abilities were ignored.
She added that AIMA’s leadership continues SEF’s tradition of prioritizing bureaucracy over supporting immigrants.
Structural Issues In Operations
STM is also concerned about how AIMA’s new structure affects its services. In the past, technicians handled all aspects of a case. Now, AIMA has split tasks between staff who work directly with the public and those who provide instructions on procedures. Niza says this division has caused inefficiencies and delays.
She said:
This system disrupts service and makes it harder for immigrants to get help
Employee Frustration And Union Concerns
The STM says many AIMA employees are unhappy. The union recently wrote a letter to workers and said it had shared their discomfort with AIMA’s management during a meeting on January 9.
The union is also frustrated that it cannot access basic tools like an institutional email system or a list of employees. STM is demanding the return of allowances that were taken away from employees.
These include an allowance for failures and an allowance for settling in the Madeira and Azores archipelagos. The union also criticized how resources are being allocated to AIMA’s Mission Structure and saying the decisions are unfair and poorly thought out.
Proposal For Special Career Path
The STM wants the government to create a special career path for migration workers. This would recognize the unique challenges faced by people working in this area. However, Niza says AIMA’s management is not supportive of the idea.
She said:
Our management did not seem interested in the proposal. We do not understand why
The STM has asked the supervisory authority to consider the idea seriously. They believe it would improve employee morale and professionalism.
AIMA Growing Challenges
AIMA was set up to fix the problems SEF had. It was supposed to offer better services and a more compassionate approach to immigration. But critics say it has inherited many of SEF’s issues including STM.
The decision to keep former SEF leaders in charge has sparked debate. Supporters say their experience is valuable. Critics say new leadership is needed to bring real change. Many doubt that AIMA can achieve its goals without fair hiring practices.
The Importance Of Supporting Immigrants
Portugal welcomes thousands of immigrants every year. Helping them integrate is crucial for their well being and for the country’s development. Agencies like AIMA play an important role but they need the right leadership, resources and structure to succeed.
STM’s concerns show that AIMA has serious problems to address. These include improving leadership transparency, fixing inefficiencies and supporting employees. The agency will struggle to serve both its workers and the immigrant communities it is meant to help without these changes.
STM has promised to keep fighting for better conditions for workers and immigrants. Their demands include fair pay, restored allowances and a special career path for migration professionals. But real change will need action from both AIMA’s leaders and the government.
For AIMA to succeed, it must abandon SEF’s flawed practices and focus on creating a more efficient and inclusive system. This means helping immigrants and supporting the workers who assist them. Without these reforms, AIMA risks repeating the same mistakes as its predecessor.
