The union representing employees at the Autonomous Port of Lomé has issued a strike notice for three days, scheduled from June 25 to 27, 2026. This action is a direct response to the ongoing failure to address numerous social and professional demands. The impending work stoppage follows a series of general assemblies held since October 2025, which workers believe have not yielded sufficient progress.
Renewed social conflict at Lomé’s vital port
Social tensions remain high within the Autonomous Port of Lomé. For several months, workers have been vocal about what they describe as challenging working conditions, including inadequate salaries, limited support in the event of accidents, and a scarcity of essential safety equipment across various operational sites. Despite repeated warnings, the union asserts that discussions with management have failed to produce concrete resolutions.
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This escalating situation impacts a critical sector. The port employs over 3,000 dockworkers and other personnel, whose contributions are central to Togo’s economic activities. For the striking workers, the stakes extend beyond internal grievances; it is also about safeguarding the operational integrity of a major economic asset.
Core demands on the table
In its official declaration, the union specifically calls for the implementation of a unified status for all personnel, adherence to daily breaks and weekly rest periods, and the provision of annual leave along with its corresponding bonus. Furthermore, it demands the application of the collective establishment agreement to tally clerks, who are considered assimilated dockworkers.
Workers also insist on the proper payment of overtime hours in accordance with regulations, the registration of all occasional dockworkers with the National Social Security Fund, and the allocation of a dirtiness allowance and a handling bonus. Finally, the union seeks to ensure that the recruitment date is consistently recognized throughout an employee’s career at the port, and that classifications and associated benefits are clearly detailed on payslips.
A call for mobilization
The union urges all employees of the Autonomous Port of Lomé to cease work for the announced three-day period and refrain from reporting to their workstations. However, it emphasizes that the right to strike remains an individual decision, and each employee retains the freedom to participate or not.
This announced strike once again places the port’s management squarely before its responsibilities. For a strategic enterprise already burdened by significant debt, resolving this social conflict is now a matter of both stability and effective governance.
