Workers at Guinean Gold Exploration SA (GGE) in Guinea have initiated an indefinite strike, affecting approximately 1,300 employees. The strike, which began on Thursday, November 12, 2026, is led by the union delegation, which has been seeking resolution on issues related to their social declarations and contributions with the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale (CNSS).
According to Fassinè Yanssané, the third secretary in charge of conflicts and claims, representing the union, the decision to strike comes after nearly two years of efforts to obtain clarification from the company's general management on their concerns. Despite these efforts, the union claims it has not received satisfactory responses, prompting the indefinite strike. The strike will continue until their demands are met.
At the heart of the dispute is the issue of social protection for employees, particularly their rights regarding old age, retirement, and disability. The union emphasizes that regularization of their situation with the CNSS is necessary to ensure that all personnel have social coverage in line with legal provisions. This issue has been a significant point of contention between the union and the company's management.
In response to the impasse, the union representatives have issued a solemn appeal to the highest authorities in the country. They are seeking intervention from the Minister of Labor and Social Protection, Ramatoulaye Camara, the Minister of Mines and Geology, Bouna Sylla, and President Mamadi Doumbouya to facilitate a resolution to the dispute. The union hopes that these interventions will help regularize their situation with the CNSS.
The union delegation has praised the mobilization and determination of the workers, noting that they intend to maintain a minimum service in accordance with legal and conventional provisions governing the exercise of the right to strike. This approach indicates that while the workers are committed to their cause, they also aim to ensure that essential services continue during the strike.
The strike by GGE workers is part of the broader context of the refoundation of the Guinean mining sector and the improvement of professional relations between employers and employees. The workers have assured that they will remain mobilized until their demands are met. For now, no resolution to the dispute has been announced, and the strike continues as discussions between the general management and union representatives await a breakthrough.
As the situation stands, the workers' union remains committed to finding a resolution that addresses their concerns about social security and employment rights. The outcome of the strike and potential negotiations with the company's management will likely have significant implications for the workers, the mining sector, and industrial relations in Guinea.
Key points
- The strike affects approximately 1,300 employees of Guinean Gold Exploration SA (GGE).
- The workers are demanding regularization of their social declarations and contributions with the Caisse nationale de sécurité sociale (CNSS).
- The union has appealed to high authorities, including the Minister of Labor and Social Protection and the President of Guinea, for intervention.
