(haipo) A shake-up in the Israeli shipping industry, publications in foreign media about the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd winning the tender to acquire ZIM caught not only the company's employees by surprise, but also the Shipping and Ports Authority. While the company has not yet issued an official announcement or provided an update to employees and the workers' union, Minister of Transportation Miri Regev has instructed to examine the possibility of intervening in the deal by activating the "golden share" held by the state. The workers' union announced that from this moment on, the company is shut down until further notice.
The storm surrounding the possible sale raises renewed questions about ZIM's strategic position for the State of Israel, the security of maritime supply chains, and the place of employees in large-scale business processes that affect not only the bottom line but also the national interest.
Zim sales storm
As early as last January, Haifa reported on concerns about the sale of ZIM to foreign entities, and in particular to the German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd, whose shareholders also include Saudi and Qatari entities. At the time, there was talk of it competing in the tender alongside a Danish company. According to reports in the international media, the German company won the tender, but ZIM itself has not yet issued an official statement on the matter.
These developments led this morning (Sunday, February 15, 2026) to a sharp statement from the ZIM Workers' Committee, which represents about 1,000 workers in Israel. The statement stated that the workers were awakened to significant economic announcements regarding progress in the deal to sell the company to foreign parties, announcements that reached them through the media, and not through the company's management or the state.
Strike until further notice
According to the workers' committee: The chairman of the committee was not informed in advance about the advanced negotiations, despite the direct implications the deal has for the future of employment, economic security and maritime activity in Israel. At the end of a meeting held this morning with the company's board of directors, in an attempt to obtain clarification regarding the details of the deal and its implications, it was decided that the company's employees would go on strike until further notice.
In a conversation with "Hai Fe," chairman Oren Caspi said: "They worked us blind. We issued a notice to the employees about the work shutdown until further notice."
The Ministry of Transportation was surprised by the reports
The Ministry of Transportation told "Hai Pa": "The Shipping and Ports Authority was surprised to learn about the ZIM deal. In light of the fact that the buyer, Hapag Lloyd, is held, among others, by Qatari and Saudi shareholders, it Minister of Transportation Miri Regev "The CEO of her office, Moshe Ben-Zaken, must immediately examine the implications of the deal and the ability to intervene in it by activating the state's gold stock."
Let us recall that the “golden share” grants the state special powers in cases of changes in control of companies of strategic importance, including the possibility of intervening in material decisions for reasons of security and national interest.
The shipping corporation ZIM told Haifa:
The company's workers' committee announced the closure of the company's headquarters in Israel.
Management is in talks with the company's workers' committee in Israel in order to avoid a negative impact on the company's ongoing operations.
ZIM Company updates that following media reports of its sale, the company's workers' committee in Israel has decided to shut down the company's headquarters in Israel. Management is in talks with the company's workers' committee in Israel, in order to avoid a negative impact on the company's ongoing operations.
The company's CEO, Mr. Eli Glickman, said: The company's management understands the feelings of the company's employees and that their welfare is at its forefront.
Shame and disgrace to sell the largest fleet in the State of Israel to its enemies,
Please stand up and join hands to continue.
The process that will have no return
We see ZIM as the largest company
In a world that provides services not only to the people of Israel but
To the whole world, therefore we must wake up now and at this moment to
Don't let them take away the best navy in the world ❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹❤️🩹
But, "Zim" is prohibited, because there are Saudi and Qatari shares in the buying company, and it is a vital sector; but "Tnuva" for the Chinese? There is no problem there.
The Minister of Transportation is considering activating the “Golden Share” after it ends its flights.
The sales agreement has been completed and the deal has been signed. Rekab is still looking for the share.
The state must prevent the problematic sale of a strategic company
Why does a private company need to inform employees about a sale?
Of course, no offense to them, but someone here got confused.
ZIM is not a private company. It is a public company.
This is not a private company, but a public company traded on the Nasdaq in the US.
Because this is not a neighborhood grocery store.
This is not a private company, but a public one.
I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that the traitor and Kerry Co. from Miri Rekab and their loyalists are reaping a handsome profit from this deal.
Good news for workers and the State of Israel 🙏🏼🇮🇱