AMMAN —
Truck drivers and owners continued
a strike Tuesday, joined by some minibus owners, against a hike in the price of
oil derivatives, Khaberni reported.
اضافة اعلان
The protest began Monday with truck owners in
Aqaba and Maan, who decried the increase in fuel prices, the deterioration of the
shipping sector, and a four-year freeze of minimum wage in the transportation
sector.
On Tuesday, dozens of drivers and owners of water
tankers in Amman’s Abdoun and Dabouq neighborhoods joined the widespread
strikes, as did drivers of buses, tankers, and tractor-trailers in several
other governorates.
Owners of trucks and heavy machinery in the Shafa
Badran area of Amman also joined the strike, with a video on social media
showing large numbers of trucks gathered at the locale.
In Karak, public transport owners also announced a
strike to protest fuel prices, according to a local media outlet.
Protesters stressed that they could no longer afford
the prices of fuel, which has been increased four times already. They called on
the government to reduce the prices of oil derivatives so that they could
continue to work and make a decent living.
Striking owners and drivers of trucks refused to
transport goods from Aqaba and Mafraq governorates to their final destinations.
Protesters called for an increase in passenger fares
as a temporary solution, and threatened to continue the strike and take further
escalatory action if their demands were not met.
Drivers of buses operating on external transport
lines later joined the strike, as did bus drivers going to
Mutah University and
ride-share drivers, according to Jordan 24.
Lawrence Al-Rifai, spokesperson for the Ride-Share
Applications Drivers Union, said that members planned to gather Wednesday, in
the Shafa Badran area, between the Applied University and Jordan Street roundabouts.
According to Rifai, the captains have been left with
no other option following the latest fuel price hike.
Prime Minister,
Bisher Al-Khasawneh said on Monday,
during a Lower House session, that the government will not abandon the policy
of adjusting fuel prices according to international prices because the
“Treasury does not have the luxury of subsidizing fuel products”.
He said that the government spend JD550 million
subsidizing fuel products in 2022, adding that it would not continue to do so.
Transport Minister Maher Abu Samen was quoted on
Tuesday as saying that a committee comprising representatives of the Ministry
of Transport, the
Land Transport Regulatory Commission (LTRC), and the Truck
Owners Syndicate will be formed to discuss issues faced by the sector and find
means of solving them.
Certain administrative problems, arrangements, and
organizational matters concerning truck drivers will be coordinated and
resolved in the future, Abu Samen said.
Minister of Government Communications Faisal
Al-Shboul said that the syndicate had announced the start of the strike and
made its demands known, but then announced that it will stop the strike.
According to a statement issued by the syndicate,
starting with 2023, cargo fare will be similar to that set by the Ministry of
Industry, Trade, and Supply, which fluctuates according to the prices of oil
derivatives.
Abu Samen noted that compensating cargo truck owners
for the high prices of fuel has nothing to do with to the strike, that there
are other means of compensation. He said the ministry had agreed with the
syndicate to have the LTRC issue a decision on Tuesday.
According to Al-Ghad News, striking truckers in
Aqaba continued their protest despite an agreement between the
Truck Owners Association and the LTRC.
The agreement, announced by syndicate chief Mohammad
Al-Dawood, was rejected by strikers across the country, who said that they were
“surprised” by both the agreement and the announcement that the strike had
ended, given that they had not been consulted.
According to Al Ghad News, the LTRC decided Tuesday
to take the following measures to address the issue:
First, the commission amended freight transportation
fees, bringing them on par with the transportation fees approved by the
Industry Ministry.
Second, an additional JD1.5 was added to transport
fees per tonne of phosphate, potash, and sulfur.
Third, the LTRC raised the price of shipping
containers weighing up to 25 tonnes from JD448 JD500 between Amman and Aqaba.
Fourth, fees will be calculated to take fuel prices
into account as of next year. As a result these fees may fluctuate.
Fifth, new wages will be decided as of Wednesday,
December 7.
On the basis of the aforementioned points, a
committee comprising all concerned parties will be formed to discuss a number
of challenges facing the transport sector.
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