Brazil: Truckers' protest enters 8th day; country paralysed

Truck drivers in Brazil have been protesting against rising fuel costs since one week. While the president of the country has announced measures to resolve the matter, the protest has continued into the 8th day.

The concessions announced include a tax cut on fuel prices for 60 days, reduced tolls for empty trucks and guaranteed freight rates. While the Brazil Truck Drivers Association, which claims to represent 6 lakh drivers has announced that the strike is over, the truck drivers have not yet resumed work.

Unhappy over the rising fuel costs as well as the high toll rates and lower freight revenues, truck drivers have parked their vehicles on the highways, blocking traffic and bringing the country to a halt. Media reports indicate that the protest demonstrations took place in 25 states, including the cities of Brasilia and Sao Paulo. School bus drivers and motorcycle couriers joined the protest in Sao Paulo.

A meeting with the Union leaders and the authorities last week did not result in a resolution of the problem and the roadblocks continued over the weekend. Oil workers have announced that they will go on strike as well this week.

For the past week, the country has been struggling with lack of essentials, including vegetables, fruits, meat and medicines. Schools have been shut down and there are long queues at fuel pumps. Reports have also indicated wastage of over 300 million litres of milk, culling of 64 million poultry and more.

Fuel prices have gone up since April 2018. Diesel, which was retailing at Rs. 61.70 per litre on April 2, has gone up to Rs. 68.82. Petrol prices hovering around the Rs. 76 mark in early April have gone up to Rs. 80.57 in Brazil.

Source - The Guardian