Troubled companies owe workers years of wages

The spokesperson for Libya’s troubled companies has urged the government to redistribute workers to public sector positions and address years of unpaid salaries, highlighting a growing crisis in the nation’s workforce management.

In a recent interview with Libya Al-Ahrar television, Kamal Al-Thabet criticised government officials for neglecting affected workers while continuing to hire new employees for permanent positions.

”The state is opening doors for thousands of new hires while ignoring our existing workforce crisis,” Al-Thabet said.

He called on multiple government bodies, including the Ministries of Industry, Culture, and Economy, to address the workers’ situation, stating these agencies bear direct responsibility for resolving the crisis.

Al-Thabet also requested an official investigation into the matter by Libya’s key oversight bodies – the Audit Bureau, Administrative Control Authority, and the Attorney General’s Office – suggesting that some individuals may be deliberately prolonging the workers’ difficulties.

The crisis has revealed coordination problems between government branches, according to Muhammad Ruwaiha, head of the National Union of Libyan Workers. “There’s a clear disconnect between legislative and executive authorities in addressing these salary issues,” Ruwaiha explained.

In response to the ongoing situation, the union leader has encouraged affected workers to organise peaceful demonstrations outside both the House of Representatives and Government of National Unity offices to press for solutions.