The union representing employees at the Port Autonome de Lomé has officially issued a strike notice, planning a three-day work stoppage from June 25 to June 27, 2026. This decision follows a series of general assemblies held since October 2025, during which staff members expressed their growing frustration over the lack of progress in negotiations regarding their professional and social welfare.
A deepening social standoff
Labor relations at the Port of Lomé have reached a breaking point. For several months, workers have been highlighting increasingly difficult conditions, citing wages that fail to meet the cost of living, insufficient medical coverage for workplace injuries, and a glaring lack of safety gear on various operational sites. Although the union has raised these alarms repeatedly, they maintain that management has failed to provide any substantive or concrete solutions to their grievances.
This industrial action targets a vital pillar of the national economy. With a workforce exceeding 3,000 dockers and administrative agents, the port is the primary engine of Togo‘s commercial activity. The strikers emphasize that their movement is not only about internal benefits but also about safeguarding the long-term operational integrity of this essential economic infrastructure.
Key demands on the table
The union’s platform for the strike includes several critical requirements aimed at standardizing and improving the lives of the workforce. Key among these is the establishment of a single professional status for all personnel, ensuring that every employee is treated under a unified framework. They are also demanding strict adherence to daily rest periods and weekly breaks, alongside the guaranteed right to annual leave and its corresponding financial bonus. Furthermore, there is a strong push to extend the collective establishment agreement to include tallymen and those working alongside dockers.
Financial transparency and security are also at the heart of the dispute. The agents are calling for:
- The payment of overtime hours in strict accordance with labor laws.
- The formal registration of all occasional dockers with the National Social Security Fund (CNSS).
- The introduction of specific hazard pay, including dirt and handling bonuses.
- The recognition of initial recruitment dates throughout an employee’s career progression.
- Clearer payslips that explicitly list job classifications and all associated benefits.
Call for total mobilization
The union leadership has instructed all Port Autonome de Lomé agents to cease all professional activities during the three-day period and to stay away from their posts. While the call for a walkout is widespread, the union reminded the workforce that the right to strike is an individual choice, and every employee remains free to decide on their participation.
This upcoming strike places significant pressure on the port’s management. In an environment where the institution is already managing substantial debt, resolving this social conflict has become a matter of both organizational stability and effective corporate governance for Togo‘s maritime gateway.
