On Thursday, the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) strongly denounced the continued delay in the payment of salaries of public sector employees. This is blamed on the arbitrary administrative procedures carried out by the Central Bank of Libya (CBL), and the Audit Bureau.
In a statement, the commission said that such illegal practices by the CBL and Audit Bureau represent a flagrant abuse of economic and political rights of the employees, and contribute to worsening the humanitarian and living conditions.
In February, south-western Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG) protested the delay in their salaries, and deduction of field allowances, which they described as “unjust and not approved by an official order by a relevant authority.” They added that they “would shut down all fields if their demands weren’t answered.”
Western PFG members also threatened to close the Al-Zawiya oil refinery if they did not receive their allowances. Eastern PFG members shut down the Hariga oil port, demanding the back payment of their delayed salaries for the year. They gave a ten-day ultimatum for receiving their salaries or they would also close the Es Sider and Ras Lanuf oil ports.
