Clearing agents are on strike in The Gambia, Freedoom Newspaper can report. They have stormed the front end premises of the Maerskline shipping agency Gambia limited, right opposite The Gambia High school.
The protest march been led by the Association of clearing agencies. Work has been halted for now.
The protesters had raised series of demands, one of which include the reduction of the Maerskline exorbitant container clearing fee charges. They have accused the shipping company of imposing unreasonable container clearing fees.
One of the leaders of the protesting clearing agents told Freedoom Newspaper by phone interview that Maerskline has the most expensive port handling fees charges in the region. He says the Maerskline charges are virtually crippling small business owners and shippers.
The strike action commenced on Monday. The police had tried to disperse the protesters without much success. The protesters had stormed the Maerskline premises this morning again.
The protest action followed the Trade Ministry’s apparent failure to respond to the clearing agents demand for the government to intervene in Maerskline alleged exploitation of shippers.
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