On October 22, workers across major ports in Brazil staged a 12-hour strike to protest government amendments to the Port Law (Law No. 12,815/2013). This action was coordinated by the National Dockworkers Federation and various unions, involving over 50,000 employees working at key ports. The unions emphasized that the changes to the law would severely impact workers' benefits and rights, particularly through the elimination of night shift bonuses and port risk bonuses, as well as the outsourcing of services such as port security.
The government's proposed amendments to the Port Law aim to modernize the port industry by updating outdated regulations and reducing bureaucracy to attract more investment. However, unions have strongly opposed these changes, arguing that they would undermine workers' protections and lead to deteriorating working conditions. Representatives of the port workers plan to demonstrate outside the House of Representatives in Brasília against the review of the law amendments. This review panel was established at the request of House Speaker Arthur Lira, highlighting the government's intention to stimulate industry development by streamlining management processes.
As pressure mounts from policy changes, significant acquisition activities within the industry have increased. On October 21, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) acquired Wilson Sons Group, Brazil's largest terminal operator, for 4.352 billion reais. Additionally, CMA CGM recently acquired a 48% stake in Opportunity, which operates the Tecon Santos container terminal at Santos Port, for 6.33 billion reais. These acquisitions indicate growing foreign investment interest in Brazil's port industry, while the direction of government policies may impact investor confidence and decision-making in the future. Overall, the opposition from workers and the government’s reform intentions will directly affect the investment environment and development strategies within the port industry.
Picture Source：NEWSCO