Gabon oil workers suspend strike
2013-03-17 22:10
Libreville - Gabon's oil workers union
said on Sunday it had suspended a week-long strike after the
government agreed to improve working conditions for Gabonese
staff and expel about 3 000 undocumented foreign employees.
Oil workers in Gabon have long complained about higher wages
paid to expatriate workers and say many of them do not have the
right work permits and papers.
"The government has given us what we want," said Onep union
spokesperson Aime Ipandi.
Oil majors Total and Royal Dutch Shell
have said the strike did not affect their operations, despite
union reports to the contrary.
The two companies dominate Gabon's roughly 240 000
barrels-per-day oil sector, and previous strikes by Onep have
closed down their operations.
Oil revenues contribute around 60% of the African
state's budget.
