Employees of Asecna Madagascar are beginning a work stoppage from today through Friday. Behind this labor action lie stalled salary negotiations. The Ministry of Transport and Meteorology does not prohibit the strike, but reminds agents of several provisions in Asecna's unified personnel statute, while stating it remains open to constructive dialogue.

Article 5 of this statute stipulates that "due to the obligations of continuity of public service for air navigation safety assigned to the Agency by member States and through regional and international agreements, agents are required to ensure the continuity of public air navigation safety service."

Each agent commits, through their employment contract, to ensure this continuity. The revised Article 11 of the Convention strengthened this requirement: "Asecna agents are bound, at all times and in all circumstances, to ensure the continuity of public air navigation safety service," particularly for medical evacuations or military troop transport by aircraft.

Facing employee demands, Transport and Meteorology Minister Herizo Ramanambola Andrianavalona had invited Asecna's director general to visit the country in a spirit of seeking consensual solutions. This visit, scheduled for August 3-8, was ultimately discouraged by strike threats. The director general had already stated that differences between headquarters and Madagascar's Agency would be resolved next year.

To clarify its position and avoid misinterpretation of its good offices, the ministry emphasizes that "the Committee of Ministers of Asecna member countries and its Board of Directors are the supreme decision-making bodies."