Mobility Subsidy Law Revised After CTT Excluded Immigrants

Government Targets Inequalities in Subsidy Rules

The Portuguese government plans to revise the mobility subsidy legislation to ensure fair treatment for residents of the Azores and Madeira. This decision comes amid criticism of the existing model, which some consider discriminatory. A joint statement from the Ministries of Finance and Infrastructure outlined efforts to streamline the process, including implementing a digital platform for subsidy management.

the government is working not only on clarifying the model for granting the social mobility subsidy and digitizing it through a digital platform but also on standardizing the legislation across the autonomous regions to simultaneously avoid situations of inequality among resident citizens

Joint note from Ministries of Finance, Infrastructure and Housing

Immigrants Denied Subsidies Face Barriers

The move follows controversy after Portugal’s postal service, CTT, refused to pay subsidies to certain immigrants living in Madeira. The 2015 law allows subsidies only for Portuguese citizens, EU citizens, or people from countries with agreements on free movement or equal rights. Critics argue this excludes legal residents who actively contribute to the regional economy.

Azores Push for Equal Treatment

Officials from the Azores have voiced frustration with the current framework. The region's Secretary for Tourism, Mobility, and Infrastructure called for immediate legal clarification, insisting that all residents, regardless of nationality, deserve equal access. "These residents pay taxes and live here; they must be treated equally," the secretary emphasized.

Advocates Condemn Discrimination

The Association of Immigrants in the Azores (AIPA) has labeled the exclusion of non-EU residents discriminatory. AIPA President Leoter Viegas highlighted that such measures undermine Portugal’s commitment to integration and cultural diversity. He argued that immigrant residents who work and contribute to the local economy should not be excluded from subsidies.

Source: Diário de Notícias da Madeira