Togo: a 72-hour strike disrupts activities at the Autonomous Port of Lomé

The social climate is tense at the Autonomous Port of Lomé. Since 5 AM on Tuesday morning, agents at the port platform have been observing a 72-hour strike, in accordance with the notice submitted on July 27 by the Union of Agents of the Autonomous Port of Lomé.

SYAPAL had set the duration of the movement from Tuesday, August 11, at 5 AM to Thursday, August 13, at 11:59 PM. In its notice, the union accuses upper management of “bad faith” and denounces what it qualifies as a “mockery of social dialogue.”

According to information reported on Tuesday by AFP and several Togolese media, activities have been slowed down at part of the platform. However, the exact extent of the disruptions to loading operations, vessel handling, and the movement of goods had not yet been quantified in an official report at the start of the movement.

This strike marks a new episode in a social dispute that has been ongoing for several months. A first notice was submitted on June 8 for a work stoppage planned from June 25 to 27. It specifically concerned casual and professional dockworkers, permanent staff, and winch operators.

Twelve Demands at the Heart of the Dispute

The first movement was ultimately suspended after discussions with port management and the Labor Inspectorate. Meeting in a general assembly on June 20, SYAPAL chose to prioritize dialogue and granted the administration a thirty-day deadline, from June 22 to July 21, to respond to twelve points of demand.

Demands include the establishment of a statute applicable to staff, respect for breaks and weekly rest, annual leave and corresponding bonuses, payment for overtime, and the affiliation of casual dockworkers to the National Social Security Fund.

Workers are also demanding the application of the collective agreement, dirt and handling bonuses, as well as better recognition of seniority and professional classifications.

The union claims that after meetings on June 10 and 16, no satisfactory official response has been provided to its demands platform. It states that it requested continued discussions on June 25 and sent reminders on July 9 and 20, without sufficient results.

Upon the expiration of the grace period granted to the administration, SYAPAL submitted a new notice on July 27. The union also announced its intention to take legal action to seek collective reparations related, according to it, to the violation of the specific statute of the personnel at the Autonomous Port of Lomé, as well as individual reparations for some workers.

At the time the strike was initiated, there had been no new detailed public communication from the management of the Autonomous Port of Lomé regarding SYAPAL’s demands or about a potential resumption of negotiations found in the sources consulted.

The social conflict comes at a time when the Togolese government is simultaneously seeking to enhance the capacities and competitiveness of the Port of Lomé. Authorities present the platform as a central element of their regional logistical strategy and have initiated several projects focusing on its digitalization and infrastructure.

A prolonged interruption of operations could have repercussions beyond Togo, as the port also handles part of the transit of goods destined for the economies of the West African hinterland. However, the real economic impact of the strike will depend on its level of adherence and the ability of different port operators to maintain their activities during the announced three days.