Senegal: General Strike Announced Amid Protests Against New Labour Codes
[allAfrica] Dakar -- Senegal's labour unions have called for a 72-hour general strike, from October 21 to 23, 2026. The government disputes the legality of the strike, saying the notice filed by the unions doesn't comply with the procedures. This standoff comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding the reform of the Labor Code and the Social Security Code.
Senegal’s labor unions have announced a three-day national strike, set to commence on October 21, 2026, over protests against recently enacted Labor and Social Security Codes. The government, however, disputes the legality of the strike, claiming the notice provided by the unions does not meet the required legal procedures. This dispute has escalated tensions between the government and trade unions.
The Trade Union Front for the Defense of Labor (FSDT), along with mobilized trade union federations, has urged workers to observe the three-day strike to express their discontent, particularly with the conditions under which the new laws were adopted. The unions have been critical of a process they believe was insufficiently consultative.
Despite previous calls for a general strike, the Labor Code and Social Security Code were still promulgated on September 3, 2026, without facing significant opposition. The Ministry of Public Service, Labor, and Public Service Reform maintains that the strike order is unlawful, citing the need for separate notifications to the appropriate authorities depending on the sector—public, semi-public, or private.
The administration also warns that non-compliance could result in salary deductions for non-worked days and disciplinary actions.
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