The Solomon Islands Ports Authority (Solomon Ports) has confirmed that full operations at the Port of Honiara resumed at 4:00 PM local time today, Thursday, April 9, 2026. The resumption follows a day of industrial action by workers that briefly halted activity at one of the South Pacific’s key maritime hubs.
The labor dispute has now been formally referred to the nation’s Trade Dispute Panel (TDP), a move that legally ended the strike and signaled the start of a formal conciliation process.
Solomon Ports management moved quickly to clarify the drivers behind the work stoppage, aiming to correct “inaccurate media reports.”
According to the official log of claims submitted by the Workers Union of Solomon Islands (WUSI), the dispute is strictly centered on financial compensation and legacy payments.
Key issues under negotiation include:
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Wage Increases: Backdated adjustments covering the period from 2018 to 2025.
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Benefit Adjustments: Revisions to various staff allowances and bonuses.
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Pandemic Compensation: Outstanding COVID-19 related payments for frontline port staff.
Management confirmed that counter-offers were presented to the union earlier this week; however, the lack of a formal response from WUSI led to the unannounced strike action on Thursday morning.
With the referral to the Trade Dispute Panel accepted, both parties are scheduled to appear before the Chairman on April 13, 2026.
Solomon Ports stated that its decisions moving forward will be balanced by two primary goals: addressing legitimate staff grievances in a fair manner and ensuring the “long-term sustainability” of the state-owned enterprise.
“All decisions will be guided by the long-term sustainability of port operations while maintaining industry-standard benefits for employees.” — Solomon Ports Management Statement
For international shipping lines, domestic operators, and local logistics firms, the port has provided the following status update:
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Terminals: Both International and Domestic terminals are fully operational.
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Extended Hours: Counter services at the port will remain open until 12:00 midnight tonight (April 9) to facilitate the clearing of backlogs and assist customers delayed by the morning’s disruption.
[ENDS]
