Algeria: Bakers warn over open strike

The National Federation of Bakers called on the Algerian trade ministry to raise their profit margin. They warned over going on an open strike.

• “The profit margin of bakers has been estimated at 3 percent since 1996 while the rest of the traders get 10 percent,” the Federation’s chief Youcef Kelfat told a news conference in Algiers.
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• He called on the ministry to set up a technical commission to check bakeries and present production expenses. “The ministry has already assigned a commission to accomplish this mission.”
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• “The Federation does not call for price raise but for increasing profit margins and reduce gas, electricity and tax expenses,” he said.
• He added that the Federation will summon its national assembly on April 30^th to make the strike announcement. “The strike will be open until the Federation’s demands are satisfied.”
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• A year ago, the Federation submitted a complete file about problems from which bakers suffered and proposed solutions.
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• An agreement was signed between the Federation and a communication agency to provide 14,000 bakeries with ecological bags made of paper.
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• Plastic bags will be replaced by paper bags in conformity to international standards. Consumers will get them for free.