KUWAIT CITY, Sept 9: The minister of oil is holding high-level talks with senior officials in the state to avoid what he called ‘a looming crisis’ following reports some workers in the oil sector are contemplating to go on strike to protest the salary hike which has been approved for them by the Civil Service Commission, reports Al-Anba daily.
The unions representing workers in the oil sector have expressed dissatisfaction with the pay hike saying the Civil Service Commission has failed to satisfy the terms of the unions.
A high-level source at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation said Minister Dr Mohammad Al-Busairi will hold talks to re-consider the hike in salaries. The source added the minister is holding talks with the prime minister particularly since the current scenario is unprecedented in the history of the oil sector.
The source said the corporation will meet next week with the unions in an attempt to pre-empt attempts by the employees to conduct the strike which has been described as ‘disastrous’ if it should happen.
The source explained the company will continue to do its best as long as there is hope and the CSC would revise the announced pay hike and study the four alternatives approved by the Higher Petroleum Council.
The source revealed the company was taken with surprise by the hike in salaries and added the company had informed the CSC of the impossibility of applying those raises.
Meanwhile, the Al-Anba daily has been informed that the union of petroleum workers and the heads of oil sector unions have received calls Thursday from senior officials including the office of the minister of oil to hold a meeting Sunday at the minister’s office.