Sana'a.. A comprehensive strike in the largest clothing market in Sana'a in rejection of a Houthi dose

Clothing, fabric and shoe traders staged a general strike on Wednesday in Sanaa in protest against a Houthi decision to impose a new, illegal price hike on the clothing trade.

Sources told "Yemeni Youth Net", "Traders in Bab al-Salam, the largest clothing market in Sana'a, organized a comprehensive strike today in protest against a price increase imposed by Houthi customs a few days ago."

According to sources, the Houthi tax on the trade in clothing, bags, shoes, fabrics and related activities amounts to 112%, without any justification.

The sources said that the Houthi decision is causing merchants huge losses and limiting the ability of residents to buy clothes, especially with the start of the school year and the approach of the harsh winter.

The Houthi militia had actually begun imposing exorbitant taxes on the clothing trade, including raising the customs price on a single locomotive to thirty million riyals in the old edition, compared to the legitimate government’s customs, which do not exceed one million riyals.

The garment sector strike is the latest in a series of strikes organised by professional trade unions in recent months.

Traders in Sanaa pledged to continue the strike until the Houthis back down from their decision to impose the new dose on the clothing market.