The union representing employees at the Port Autonome de Lomé has formally submitted a strike notice, signaling a three-day work stoppage scheduled from June 25 to 27, 2026. This action is a direct protest against the persistent failure to address numerous social and professional grievances. The planned industrial action follows a series of general assemblies held since October 2025, which workers believe have not yielded sufficient progress in negotiations.
Renewed social confrontation
Social tensions remain high at the Port Autonome de Lomé. For several months, staff members have voiced concerns over what they describe as challenging working conditions, including inadequate salaries, limited coverage for accidents, and a notable lack of essential safety equipment across various operational sites. Despite repeated warnings, the union asserts that discussions with management have yet to produce concrete solutions or satisfactory responses.
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This escalating situation impacts a critical economic sector. The port is a vital hub, employing over 3,000 dockers and other personnel whose contributions are central to Togo’s economic activity. For the striking workers, the stakes extend beyond internal demands; it is also about safeguarding the efficient operation of a major national economic asset.
Key demands on the table
In its official declaration, the union specifically calls for the establishment of a unified status for all employees, strict adherence to daily breaks and weekly rest periods, and the provision of annual leave along with its corresponding bonus. Furthermore, they demand that the collective establishment agreement be applied to pointers who are considered analogous to dockers.
Port agents also insist on the proper payment of overtime hours in accordance with regulations, the registration of all occasional dockers with the National Social Security Fund, and the allocation of both a dirt allowance and a handling allowance. Finally, the union seeks assurance that the recruitment date will be recognized throughout an employee’s professional journey at the port, and that classifications and associated benefits are clearly itemized on payslips.
Call for mobilization
The union urges all personnel at the Port Autonome de Lomé to participate in the announced three-day work stoppage and refrain from reporting to their workstations. However, it emphasizes that the right to strike remains an individual choice, and each employee retains the freedom to decide whether or not to participate.
This impending strike once again places the port’s management squarely before its responsibilities. For a strategic enterprise already grappling with substantial debt, resolving this social conflict is now seen as crucial for both stability and effective governance.
