The Turkish Anadolu Agency reported on Wednesday that a large number of oil workers are demanding a two-thirds increase in their salaries, at a time when oil production in the OPEC member state is witnessing a significant rise.
The agency noted that these comments represent the first signs of opposition at the Sharara oil field, which produces 315,000 barrels per day, since its reopening this month. The field had previously been shut down by state guards and tribal groups in what appeared to be a successful attempt to secure salary payments and obtain development funding.
The Turkish agency explained that a video showed between 50 and 60 workers demanding a 67% salary increase — a figure that was approved by the government in 2013 but was never implemented. The wage increase had not been carried out shortly after the government approved the amount.
Public finances were later affected by a series of oil field shutdowns carried out by armed groups and protesters.
A Sharara oil field engineer previously told Reuters, requesting anonymity: “We do not want anything except a salary increase. We work in the desert and are trying to increase production at the Sharara field back to its normal level,” according to the agency.
