Workers’ committee demands overhaul of Sudanese Seaports Authority management over pay

A workers’ committee in Port Sudan has called for the dismissal of Captain Mohammed Hassan Mukhtar, the Director General of the Sudanese Seaports Authority, and a complete change in the management.

The committee cited the administration’s failure to pay workers’ entitlements for the past two years as the primary reason for its demands.

Tahir Osman, a member of the Supreme Committee for Workers of the Sudanese Seaports Authority, stated after a committee meeting, that the ports authority had neglected them.

“The committee demands a complete change in the management of the seaports authority due to their neglect in paying workers’ dues,” he said. “The employees of the Seaports Authority are facing severe pressure due to not receiving their entitlements, which has placed significant responsibilities on them.”

The committee also called for the seaports administration to hold an emergency board meeting by 12 June to address the workers’ entitlements.

According to Osman, they have exhausted all proper channels to secure their rights, including a meeting with the chairman of Sudan’s Sovereignty Council. He said that they would organize a consultative meeting for committee members to approach the Sovereignty Council.

He clarified that the Sovereignty Council had previously requested that they avoid strikes and street blockades, asserting that they are sending these messages as part of their rights.

Osman emphasized that their actions are following proper procedures, warning against perceiving them as troublemakers.

The official revealed the formation of a supreme committee to advocate for workers’ entitlements, pointing out that this committee was created by the workers themselves due to the immense pressure on the Seaports Authority employees.

Workers of the Sudanese Seaports Authority have been suffering from harsh economic conditions due to low wages and delayed payments. Previously, a committee affiliated with the Seaports Authority announced a 24-hour strike in protest of the decision to place the authority under the jurisdiction of the federal Ministry of Finance.