Conflicting reports emerge over nationwide strike’s impact on Tanger Med Port

Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding the impact of a nationwide general strike organized by labor unions in protest of the controversial Organic Law No. 97.15, which regulates the right to strike. While union representatives claim the strike significantly disrupted operations, officials at Tanger Med Port insist the facility remained unaffected.

A senior official at Tanger Med Port, speaking to Hespress on condition of anonymity, stated that port operations proceeded as usual on Wednesday and Thursday, with no disruptions due to the strike. According to the official, employees reported to work as scheduled, ensuring the continuity of services.

The official cited port activity data to refute claims of halted operations. On Wednesday, February 5, the port recorded 1,134 trucks departing and 1,146 arriving. The following day, February 6, 1,100 trucks left the port for Europe while 1,112 trucks entered. These figures, the official noted, are consistent with the port’s normal activity levels, contradicting reports of any significant impact from the strike.

Passenger traffic also remained steady, according to the official. On the first day of the strike, 1,607 passengers arrived at the port while 2,088 departed. The second day saw 1,133 arrivals and 1,076 departures, figures that the official described as normal.

However, labor union sources dispute these claims, arguing that workers from private sector companies operating within the port participated in a “successful strike” that disrupted activities. They accused port authorities of downplaying the strike’s effects and withholding information.

The conflicting statements add to the ongoing dispute between the government and labor unions, which have challenged the official strike participation rates. According to the government, only 1.4% of private sector employees and 32% of public sector workers joined the strike on Wednesday. Unions, however, have criticized these figures, arguing that they fail to reflect the true scale of participation and highlight broader concerns over what they describe as intensified government pressure on unionized workplaces.