Aqaba container truck drivers go on strike

AMMAN — Drivers of container trucks at the Aqaba port have been on strike for the past two days protesting against "high operational costs" imposed by the concerned bodies, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday.

The strike, which resulted in the stoppage of container handling, came after talks with the Transport Ministry have failed, according to Mohammad Dawoud, the president of the Truck Owners Association.

The drivers called for an increasing in freight rates and better regulations for the number of trips per truck. Dawoud said that "there is no minimum freight rate" for individual truck owners, adding that he expects an increase in the number of truck owners who are not able to license their trucks up to 6,000.

The union president said that the drivers will go on an open-ended strike if their demands are not met.