Call to meet Kuwait Oil Company workers demand; ‘Injustice will not be tolerated’
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KUWAIT CITY, Oct 9: The Workers Union at Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) announced that it will take escalatory steps if the problems of workers in the company and the oil sector in general are not resolved, reports Al-Anba daily. In a recent press conference at the union’s headquarters in Ahmadi, head of the union Abbas Awad revealed the most important demands of the company’s workers are the new promotion system, speedy encashment of unused leave days, payment of incentive for frontliners, and resolution of pending labor files. Awad stressed that the escalation is aimed at addressing any injustice suffered by the workers of KOC, pointing out there are officials who use the system incorrectly.
He added: “We have a system and regulations, so why do you create systems that harm workers. We support any amendment that leads to efficiency.” He called on officials to give the oil sector workers the right to disburse the frontliners’ incentive. He pointed out that the salaries of oil sector workers have not changed since 2011 — the lowest compared to their counterparts in some countries despite the rise in the prices of goods and commodities, thereby, increasing the workers’ financial burdens. He added the oil sector workers have maintained production and continue to work day and night to increase production at a time oil prices increased globally, while the State budget deficit shrunk, and this is due to the efforts of workers who deserve the realization of their demands.
He said: “We are optimistic about the current stage of the parliamentary representatives and the selection of His Highness Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah to form the new government. We are not asking for money, we are demanding for our rights. The next Budgets Committee in the National Assembly to urgently approve the rights of the oil sector workers to approve the frontliners’ incentives and encashment of unused leave days.
On the other hand, Assistant Secretary Eng Saad Al-Hamidi Al-Hajri said that the press conference is a step preceding the escalation such as the sit-in, which will be conducted soon if the outstanding issues are not resolved and the management of the company and the institution do not fulfill their promises. Also, member of the union’s Board of Directors Salem Ali Al-Subaie said those concerned should intervene to defuse the upcoming escalation. “We will not accept any derogation from the rights of the company’s workers, as it is a red line and not the subject of bargaining,” he concluded
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