Workers at Bolivia’s state-owned Empresa Siderúrgica del Mutún (ESM) blocked the Suarez port connecting Bolivia and Brazil, demanding payment of three months’ worth of wages.
A spokesperson for the company said an agreement regarding the delayed payments is likely to be reached Monday.
Last week, ESM’s workers initiated a strike that lasted 24 hours. Later in the same week, the workers went on another strike that ended last Saturday. This week, the nation’s metals and mining minister, Cesar Navarro, sent a letter to the company saying the government will take all needed measures to pay the late wages.
ESM is currently investing more than $405 million to build a rebar mini mill, while the Bolivian government is investing $400 million in the project.
Earlier this year, the Bolivian government sent an invitation to seven Chinese companies to establish a partnership for its Mutun steel project in the region of Santa Cruz.