Libyan authorities have detained more than 1,500 foreign workers in a large-scale raid on informal settlements east of Tripoli, the Ministry of Labour announced on Saturday. The operation, attended by Labour Minister Ali Al-Abed, targeted what he described as “large, unregulated housing clusters for foreign labour.”
Al-Abed stated that the detained workers, of various nationalities, lacked residence permits, official documentation, or medical checks. “These groups have not undergone any formal procedures or health screenings,” he said. The workers were taken to facilities under the Department for Combating Illegal Migration, where legal measures will be applied according to Libyan regulations.
The targeted area consisted of makeshift camps surrounded by high walls and a large gate. An AFP reporter present at the scene described the camp as having a small grocery shop, a butcher, and a vegetable stand, highlighting the informal economic activity taking place there.
Libya remains a key departure point for thousands of irregular migrants aiming to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, located just 300 km away. Many of the detained individuals are believed to be from Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa. It remains unclear whether immediate deportations are planned.
The Ministry of Labour said the site failed to meet “basic requirements for proper housing, health, and occupational safety,” according to the Libyan News Agency.
Earlier this month, European Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, accompanied by ministers from Greece, Italy, and Malta, visited Libya to discuss migration flows. Libyan naval forces regularly intercept migrant boats in international waters and return them to Libya, where humanitarian organisations and the UN have condemned detention conditions as inhumane.
The recent crackdown highlights Libya’s ongoing efforts to regulate undocumented foreign labour and curb irregular migration amid increasing international scrutiny.
