December 28, 2020

Argentina's agro-export firms improve wage deal in bid to end grains port strike

The CIARA-CEC chamber, Argentina's influential group of soyoil manufacturers and exporters have improved their offer to workers on strike, looking to end a two-week standoff that has slowed down grain exports from the country, Reuters reported.

The chamber has offered to raise salaries by 35% this year for the workers. In addition, the chamber has offered a bonus of ARS 70,000 (~US$840; ARS 100 = US$1.20) to compensate workers for working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The CIARA-CEC chamber said their offer would bump their pay to one of the highest salaries in the private sector in the country.

Argentina is the biggest soymeal international exporter, as well as a major exporter of corn, wheat, and raw soybeans.

Workers based in soy processing factories in Rosario, Argentina's main agricultural export hub, have demanded for a pay rise to compensate for the country's high inflation and the risks of working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Workers on strike did not respond immediately to the improved offer. Argentina's government has urged both sides to meet and resolve their differences.

Since the strike began on December 9, Rosario port terminals have not received soybeans, resulting in loading delays for over 100 cargo ships. Other workers on strike come from the the Urgara union of port-side grains inspectors and SOEA oilseed workers organisation.

The wage strikes have affected operations of major global agriculture companies like Cargill, Bunge, and Louis Dreyfus, while soybean prices have surged on the Chicago exchange to its highest in six years.

- Reuters