Strike forces closure of DP World's Egyptian port

Global ports operator DP World has closed its Ain al-Sokhna port in Egypt due to ongoing labour strikes, Reuters reports.

Workers have been protesting for three days over hardship allowances, pay restructuring and wages owed since 2008, a Red Sea port authority said.

The decision by DP World to close the port came as a result of the strike disrupting shipping in and out of the port.

"Our primary concern is the safety of our people. While we do not anticipate much disruption to our business, we hope to resolve the situation as soon as possible and swiftly resume normal operations," a DP World spokesman told Reuters.

It is the second time in six months the Egyptian port has encountered industrial action.

In September, the port at the southern end of the Suez Canal was closed over a similar dispute.

Egypt is not the only country in which DP World has recently had to deal with industrial action, with the ports operator averting a 24 hour stoppage at its Melbourne container terminal in January.

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