The Argentine government ordered on Monday that two unions representing soybean oil industry workers suspend a week-long strike that had paralyzed the country's main grain ports for 15 days. The SOEA and FederaciĆ³n Aceitera, two unions active in the Rosario agricultural belt, had halted operations at the major grain ports since last Tuesday due to wage demands amid an annual inflation rate nearing 300%.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment announced on Monday that, at the request of industry chambers, it was issuing a mandatory 15-day conciliation starting at 10:30 AM, forcing the resumption of negotiations that had reached an impasse.
"The government asks the parties in conflict to maintain the best predisposition and openness to negotiate the issues on which they have differences," the government said in a statement.
The Oil Industry Chamber (CIARA) confirmed in a statement issued after the official decision that it had requested the mandatory conciliation "given the inability to resume dialogue" and the enormous economic damage caused by the strike.
The actions by SOEA and the Oil Workers' Federation caused delays in the loading of more than 35 ships carrying grain and its derivatives.
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