Libya is witnessing an escalating campaign against foreign workers, particularly those residing illegally. In recent days, social media has been filled with posts calling for the deportation of undocumented foreigners, stricter immigration controls, and protests to demand the government take action.
Libyan social media users are vocal about their concerns, according to Al-Arbiya news.
Blogger Abdel Hakim Abdullah commented, “Foreigners must be expelled from Libya, then allowed back only through formal contracts to control foreign currency outflow.” Another user, known as “Winter Flower,” echoed this sentiment, calling for an across-the-board deportation and taxes on those allowed to work under official contracts.
Activist Nasr Shaqlouf also expressed frustration over the tax-free status of many foreign workers, despite their consumption of subsidized goods. “It is a national duty to impose fees on foreign residents,” he stated.
However, the surge in anti-immigrant rhetoric has raised concerns about incitement to violence.
On Wednesday, Libya’s National Human Rights Commission condemned these divisive statements, warning that they could incite discrimination and hostility towards foreign residents.
The commission urged authorities to regulate foreign workers’ presence in a lawful and humane manner, involving agencies such as the Ministry of Labour, the Interior Ministry, and the Anti-Illegal Migration Authority.
According to recent government surveys, an estimated 2.1 million foreign workers reside in Libya, many employed in the informal sector. The commission’s statement emphasized the need to handle foreign labor issues through legal and humanitarian channels to prevent escalating social tensions.
