India Dockworkers-Potential Strike

The impending port strike in India has raised concerns among container lines and shippers, who are already facing operational challenges due to the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea.

In late November, various labor unions representing dockworkers across the country’s 12 public ports voted to initiate an indefinite strike starting on December 17. The action aims to pressure the government to formally approve employment terms that were agreed upon two months ago. The unresolved issues behind the labor unrest include wage hikes retroactive to 2022 and pension benefits for retirees.

In an advisory on Wednesday, Hapag-Lloyd stated that it is closely monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, trade union sources speaking to the Journal of Commerce emphasized their firm stance on the planned joint protests.

Among the government-operated ports, Nhava Sheva manages the majority of India's containerized cargo. However, with terminal operations now entirely privatized under a landlord model, union activity at the port is limited, typically confined to contracted gantry crane operations in some on-dock yard areas.

Meanwhile, labor unions still maintain significant influence among workers at several east coast ports, including Chennai, Kolkata, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Visakhapatnam. These ports primarily serve as feeder hubs with limited mainline traffic, mostly focused on intra-Asia trade.

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