The president of the Union of Investigation, Inspection and Borders Inspectors (SIIFF), Renato Mendonça, told Lusa that "the arrivals hall in the international area of the airport is now more than full", with "3,000 to 4,000 people ” waiting, a number that will “tend to increase” until 10:00 am, when today's strike period ends.

“Eventually it could mean a few hours of waiting for people. [For] those who are further ahead, less time, [for] those who are arriving last and who will arrive by 10:00, it will effectively be a few hours of waiting”, he said.

The union leader noted, however, that “if the intention had been to produce maximum effects in terms of constraints, 24-hour strikes would have been called. The initial intention on our part is to demonstrate our indignation, causing some embarrassment, of course, but also minimising the impact on this whole situation. Hence, we opted for a five-hour strike instead of a 24-hour strike,” he maintained.

According to Renato Mendonça, "the minimum services are being fulfilled in full, as is obvious and could not be otherwise", which means that "10 out of 40" inspectors are at work.

The strike called by the SIIFF will run until the end of June at the country's various airports and border posts, with uncertainty surrounding the future of SEF inspectors after the Government approved, on April 6, the decree -law establishing the transition regime for SEF workers following the restructuring process.

At Humberto Delgado Airport, in Lisbon, the stoppage will take place between today and Monday from 5:00 am to 10:00 am, and is also scheduled for the same time on the 27th to 29th of May, from 3rd to 5th of June, from June 10th to 12th, June 17th to 19th and June 24th to 26th.

At the airports of Porto, Faro and Madeira and at the other SEF organic units, the strike is scheduled for the 22nd and 29th of May and the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of June and will last for 24 hours, because in these places “the impact in terms of constraints is not so great”.