KUWAIT – Workers at state-owned oil, gas and petrochemical companies in Kuwait will stage a strike starting on Sunday, protesting the government plan to cut some of their benefits and wages.
Saif Qahtani, head of the Oil and Petrochemical Industries Workers Confederation said the union finds itself obliged to take the difficult decision to escalate with this announcement of a general strike in all sectors as of Sunday, April 17.
Although he announcement was made at a press conference, there was no announcement on how long the strike would last.
Workers fear reduced salaries, benefits and layoffs will be part of a planned government overhaul of the payroll system in the public sector.
Companies where workers plan to join the strike are Kuwait Oil Company, Kuwait Oil Tanker company, Equate Petrochemical Industries Company and Kuwait Gulf Oil Company.