Thousands of workers, including teachers, healthcare professionals, and sanitation staff, staged an eight-hour general strike across Italy on Friday, protesting against stagnant wages, rising living costs, and declining public services.  The strike, organized by Italy’s largest trade unions, targeted Premier Giorgia Meloni’s budget policies, which unions claim underfund crucial sectors such as education and healthcare. Protesters also called for a fairer distribution of private sector profits to workers.  “These demonstrations are not just a message for the government,” said Maurizio Landini, leader of the CGIL trade union, during a rally in Bologna. “They are directed at business leaders and managers who have enjoyed unprecedented profits in recent years.”  The industrial action disrupted various services, including education, healthcare, and transportation. ITA Airways canceled several domestic and international flights, while schools and hospitals faced significant slowdowns. Although unions planned an eight-hour strike, Transport Minister Matteo Salvini restricted it to four hours in the transportation sector.  This marks Italy’s first general strike since November last year. However, unions risk penalties for involving sectors like healthcare and justice, which have already faced strikes. Italy’s railway sector, which has seen recent labor actions, was exempted from Friday’s strike.  Italy’s healthcare system, particularly in the under-resourced southern regions, has been grappling with severe staffing shortages. Many healthcare workers have sought jobs abroad due to inadequate salaries, leaving existing staff to manage increased workloads. “Low wages are driving people away. We often have to work double shifts just to maintain basic care levels,” said Anna Salsa, a member of the UIL healthcare union, during a protest in Rome.  Amazon India workers strike on Black Friday for better pay Rising grocery prices have further strained households, with consumer group Codacons reporting an additional annual cost of €238 ($251) for a family of four in 2024.  Despite starting salaries comparable to other European nations, Italy’s wage growth lags, resulting in a median annual salary of €35,000 ($37,000), one of the lowest among G7 countries, noted labor expert Maurizio Del Conte.   

Movement of containers at Chittagong Port remains suspended since Tuesday morning as prime movers (trailer) enforced a strike, demanding their wages as declared from the government. The workers, who operate the trailers loaded with containers to their designated vessels, began gathering in the morning. They left their vehicles stranded at the port, halting the movement of goods-laden containers. Indian Minister’s visit: Decision on suspending trade for 3 days through Benapole port withdrawn The Prime Mover (trailer), Concrete Mixer, Flatbed, and Dump Truck Workers' union called a two-day strike, demanding government-declared wages, job appointments after recruitment, and ID cards with photos. Every day, around 2,000 containers are moved in the port area. Ruhul Amin Shikdar, General Secretary of the Government Depot Association, said that if the situation continues, export activities will be delayed. Md Omar Faruk, Secretary of Chittagong Port, said the jetty, yard, and terminal activities were normal. An initiative has been taken to hold a meeting between the workers and owners regarding the ongoing strike, he added.  

Sri Lankan health, railway, port and other state workers were on a daylong strike Wednesday to protest against sharp increases in income taxes and electricity charges, as the island nation awaits approval of an International Monetary Fund package to aid its bankrupt economy. Most government hospitals around the country suspended their outpatient clinics because doctors, nurses and pharmacists were on strike. The railways operated fewer trains and armed soldiers guarded carriages and train stations fearing sabotage. Trade unions say the increase in taxes and electricity charges have hit them hard amid difficulties from the country's worst economic crisis. They have threatened to extend the strike indefinitely if the government fails to address their demands. Also Read: Sri Lanka leader says IMF deal imminent after China’s pledge The government says it was compelled to raise taxes to strengthen state revenue and electricity charges to cover production costs, key prerequisites to unlocking the proposed $2.9 billion IMF package. Authorities say they managed to operate some trains and most state banks despite the strike. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said last week the fund's board will meet on March 20 to consider the final approval of Sri Lanka's bailout package after China gave crucial debt restructuring assurances. Sri Lanka announced last year it was suspending repayment of its foreign loans amid a severe foreign currency crisis that resulted in shortages of fuel, food, medicines and cooking gas, along with long power cuts. The crisis led to street protests that forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and resign. President Ranil Wickremesinghe, since taking over last July, has managed to end the power cuts and reduce shortages. The Central Bank has said the country's reserves have improved and Sri Lanka's rupee has started to strengthen after crashing last year. The Central Bank has wrested back control of foreign currency trade from the black market, the monetary authority says. However, critics say the strengthening of the currency might be linked to import controls and that it is bound to weaken once the country reopens for imports. Wickremesinghe told Parliament last week that difficult reforms are needed to remain on course with the IMF program. Sidestepping them, as the country has done on 16 previous occasions, could spell danger, he added, noting that any breakdown would compel Sri Lanka to repay $6-7 billion of foreign debt every year until 2029. However, he found no support from the opposition parties and the public, who say he is shielding the ousted Rajapaksa family from allegations of corruption, which they say caused the economic crisis, in return for their support for his presidency.