The union representing workers at the Port of Lomé has filed a three-day strike notice, set for June 25 to 27, 2026, to protest the lack of response to several social and professional demands. This action follows multiple general meetings held since October 2025, which workers say failed to produce sufficient progress.
A new social standoff
Tensions remain high at the Port of Lomé. For months, workers have denounced difficult working conditions, citing inadequate wages, limited accident compensation, and insufficient safety equipment at certain sites. Despite repeated warnings, the union believes discussions with management have not yielded tangible results.
This situation affects a strategic sector. The port employs over 3,000 dockers and other staff, who play a central role in Togo’s economic activity. For the strikers, the issue goes beyond internal grievances—it is also about defending the smooth operation of a major economic asset.
Demands on the table
In its statement, the union demands the establishment of a single status for all personnel, respect for daily breaks and weekly rest, as well as annual leave and its associated allowance. It also calls for the application of the collective bargaining agreement to dockers classified as tally clerks.
Workers also insist on payment of overtime in line with regulations, registration of all casual dockers with the National Social Security Fund, and the granting of a dirt allowance and a handling allowance. The union further requests that the recruitment date be taken into account throughout a worker’s career at the port, and that classifications and corresponding benefits be clearly listed on pay slips.
Call for action
The union urges all Port of Lomé staff to stop work during the three announced days and not to report to their posts. It notes, however, that the right to strike remains individual and each employee is free to participate or not.
This planned strike once again places the port’s management in a position of responsibility. For a strategic enterprise already burdened by significant debt, resolving this social conflict now appears to be a matter of stability as much as governance.
