A planned strike by nearly 20,000 workers at major Indian ports was averted just hours before its scheduled start, as unions reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract that includes an 8.5% wage increase. Negotiations had been ongoing since 2021, when the previous contract expired, and the workers initially demanded a 10.6% hike. The agreement was facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indian Ports Association and the Federation of Indian Workers’ Union, which alleviated concerns about disruptions to the global supply chain. The cargo volume at these ports is significant, with an annual handling capacity of 1.62 billion metric tonnes. However, the negotiations reflect ongoing tensions in the shipping industry, as other strikes loom in both the U.S. and European regions. This resolution comes amid a backdrop of increasing freight costs and congestion affecting global trade dynamics.