The Israeli government''s Finance and Transport Ministries, the Ashdod Port workers'' committee and the General Federation of Labour (Histdrut) have struck a 10-year deal in respect of reform at Ashdod Port.
In return for refraining from strikes in protest against construction of a new private port, port workers will be provided with a decade long safety net.
If the forecasted throughput of 3.5m teu is not achieved by 2021, workers will still receive 70% of their premium pay for a period of ten years. A further $386,000 will be set aside for their “cultural basket” and 95 workers in the sea division will be transferred to Israel Ports Development and Assets.
In terms of investment, the existing general cargo Quay 21 is to be upgraded to allow it to handle 18,000 teu vessels, leaving general cargo to be handled at two other quays. New equipment is being sourced for those terminals with a budget of $56m.
