The truckers syndicate at the Port of Beirut launched an open-ended strike Monday to pressure the government to permanently halt a controversial project that critics say could jeopardize 1,500 jobs.
The state-run National News Agency said the ports entrances were closed, stopping all activities of loading and unloading and transportation of merchandise in and out of the facility.
The NNA said the strike is open-ended until the Cabinet discusses a project to fill the port's fourth basin. The project is mostly opposed to by Christian parties, including rivals Lebanese Forces and Free Patriotic Movement
The project has reached a boiling point as the Cabinet has yet to reach a decision on whether or not the basin, the largest at the port, should be filled.
Work started early in the month but was halted by the Public Works and Transportation Ministry to allow the government to discuss the issue, following an earlier strike by the truckers and pressure from political groups.
The port authority initiated the filling of the fourth basin as the second phase in a long-term project to make the Port of Beirut a transshipment hub.
Filling the basin will allow more space for storing containers.
But port workers argue that the filling of the fourth basin – which they describe as the most important basin the Middle East for its depth and economic activity – will put the jobs of 1,500 port workers, mostly truckers, at risk.
