AIMA Workers Strike Over Unpaid Overtime: Key Demands Revealed!

AIMA Workers Initiate Overtime Strike

Workers of the Agency for Integration, Migrations and Asylum (AIMA) are set to begin a strike on overtime hours starting this Thursday, lasting until the end of the year. This protest targets all supplementary work on mandatory rest days and holidays, as well as overtime hours. Many employees have already exceeded 150 unpaid overtime hours.

The strike has been organized by the National Federation of Trade Unions of Public and Social Workers to contest the shortage of staff. This strike will affect all federation workers, regardless of their contractual ties.

Key Demands of the Workers

The workers have outlined three primary demands:

1. Regularization of overtime payments and career advancements.
2. Increase in staffing levels across all job categories to meet organizational goals.
3. Adherence to legal working hours and their maximum limits.

On Wednesday, the FNSTFPS expressed disappointment that AIMA has not shown any willingness to discuss the overtime strike. Union leader Artur Cerqueira stated, "The strike starts on the 22nd, so there’s still time for the government to call us for discussions on minimum services or our demands."

However, Cerqueira expressed skepticism about this happening. He explained that this strike notice allows workers to refrain from working beyond the 150 mandatory hours set for public service until the year’s end, serving as a response to the excessive workload imposed on AIMA employees.

Workers have the option to choose whether or not to work during this strike, allowing each individual to assess their fatigue levels before agreeing to any overtime.

Expectations and Criticisms

This strike is expected to last until the year’s end, with hopes it can be called off if AIMA takes necessary actions to increase staffing levels to address pending requests and immigrant contacts. Cerqueira emphasized this strike notice aims to pressure AIMA into finding permanent solutions.

Criticism has arisen from other AIMA unions regarding this strike notice. Manuela Niza, leader of the Migration Technicians Union, claimed that no one is forced to work overtime and accused the FNSTFPS of exploitation.

In response, Cerqueira highlighted that public administration workers are indeed obligated to work overtime as the law stipulates. He clarified that the 150 hours is the maximum allowable without financial authorization from the employer.

The FNSTFPS’s demands document points out various problems within AIMA, such as the lack of an internal regulation, poor communication, and understaffed teams, leading to increased stress and anxiety among employees. Many workers have already surpassed the 150 hours of overtime for 2024 without receiving payment.

The federation believes the current situation is the result of poor governmental policies and urges immediate governmental action to address the violations of workers' rights.

In late July, the government appointed Pedro Portugal Gaspar as the new head of AIMA, while the previous president was reassigned to a new mission structure for migrations. This new mission aims to resolve over 400,000 pending immigration cases, with a workforce of up to 100 specialists.

Government's Commitment

The government has promised a shift in direction for AIMA, aiming to implement measures outlined in the Migration Action Plan introduced in early June.