Heavy-freight truck owners continued their strike on Sunday, ushering the episode into its 18th day in seven governorates. The truckers cited blurry government concessions, concerning the recently-issued requirement to transform all semi-trailers to full-trailers, as the reason for persisting with the strike.The concessions were announced last week following negotiations between the Chamber of Commerce in Cairo (CCC) and union representatives. Meanwhile, agricultural exporters called on the government to bring an end to the strike by any means necessary in light of the suspension on export operations the protest has caused. Exports account for nearly 60 percent of goods transported by heavy-freight trucks. The Ministry of Transport announced 17 workshops are equipped to execute the safety upgrades the government has demanded in accordance with the criteria approved by the International Organization for Standardization and the Ministry of Transport. The ministry urged the truckers to undertake the safety upgrades and to end the strike. The amendment, ministry officials said, is irrevocable. In related news, General Trade Union of Road Transport head Mohamed al-Jabali said the union convinced between 70 to 80 percent of the striking truckers to halt the strike in Minya and Beni Suef governorates. There will be a meeting on Monday with truckers who continue to strike in Gharbiya and Dakahlia, al-Jabali added. He advised the truckers to discontinue their protest. A number of truck drivers allege security forces have pressured them to halt the strike and return to work. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
