Port labour law makes companies quit inland waterways

In his speech at the annual dinner of the Dutch inland navigation organisation Central Bureau for Rhine and Inland Navigation (CBRB), professor Eric Van Hooydonk hung up a not-so-great picture of the situation in Belgian inland navigation. He confirmed that there is indeed a problem due to the extra costs caused by the port labour law in our country. “The cost of loading and unloading rises as a result, and that prompts business managers to stop using inland navigation,” Van Hooydonk says. He calls the strict rules around port labour an antiquated, monopolistic and rigid system, adding that Belgian port workers work super hard, but that this labour organisation creates a huge cost disadvantage. “Inland navigation is cheaper in itself, but many companies revert to road transport because of the extra costs,” he says.