Portugal abolishes scandal-hit border service, strike looms

FILE PHOTO: A plane on route to Cuba from Lisbon safely performs an emergency landing at Humberto Delgado Airport after identifying a problem in the landing gear, in Lisbon, Portugal, June 18, 2022. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo

LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's government approved on Thursday the abolition of the scandal-hit immigration agency SEF, whose border force officers, uncertain about their future, have mooted industrial action during the usually busy Easter period.

The officers agreed to start a five-day strike on Thursday but their union suspended the first day of action to hold talks with the government on compensation packages and other issues. It was not immediately clear whether the strike will go ahead from Friday.