After 45 days, a resolution has been found in a strike that has set back trading for fruit growers in the Colombian interior.

Government ministers have confirmed an agreement was reached with the trucker union in the early hours of this morning, putting an end to the protest.

"Our country needs a freight system that is fair, transparent and efficient so that Colombians pay fair prices and also the rights of drivers and workers in the sector are guaranteed," Transport Minister Jorge Eduardo Rojas said in a release.

Truck driver spokesperson Luis Orlando Ramírez said the strike was able to raise awareness about the difficult situation his sector had been experiencing, the story reported, El Colombiano reported 

"Today we want to say to our colleagues that we are finishing the strike, we have reached an agreement. There is a lot left to do, but every one of the requests our colleagues in the cities sent us were studied," Ramírez was quoted as saying..

Presidential Secretary Luis Guillermo Vélez said negotiations concluded at 3am, and would mean progress for the country, the story reported.

"This agreement allows for a structural reform of heavy cargo transport policy that was designed through these strikes. There were imbalances in the productive chain," Vélez was quoted as saying.

The official said the deal included reference prices for fixed costs like tolls and gas, the story reported.

"By no means will we return to a freight table. We will have an efficient cost system which will be effective for the country, updated in real time to recognize gas and toll costs, and variables of transport in Colombia."

Vélez added the government would be monitoring the 24 routes were cost distortions had been seen, fixing costs while adjustments are made.

Related stories: Trucker strike grips Colombian farming sector

Trucker strike impacts Colombia's reliability overseas, says fruit exporter

www.freshfruitportal.com

www.freshfruitportal.com