Senegalese Workers Protest Rising Costs Ahead of 72-Hour General Strike
Workers and trade union members marched in Senegal’s capital, Dakar, on Tuesday, October 20, protesting rising living costs and what unions describe as the government’s failure to honour agreements with workers.
The demonstration, organised by the Front Syndical pour la Défense des Travailleurs (FSDT), preceded a planned 72-hour general strike scheduled for October 21–23, involving calls for work stoppages across public, private and informal sectors.
The unions are demanding improved purchasing power, better working conditions and the implementation of outstanding agreements. Their concerns include employment security, pensions, housing allowances and lower prices for essential goods and services.
The government has urged unions to suspend the strike and continue negotiations, saying progress has been made in implementing agreements. However, the labour ministry has questioned the strike’s legality, warning that failure to follow statutory procedures could expose workers to salary deductions and disciplinary measures.
The planned industrial action comes as Senegal prepares to host the Youth Olympic Games, which begin later this month, adding pressure on authorities to resolve the dispute and limit potential disruptions to public services.
