NIGER: Dismissed Employees of Chinese Oil Company Protest Nonpayment of Salaries

Nigerien employees of a Chinese oil company, CNPC, who are working on the Agadem site in Niger, are protesting nonpayment of salaries following the company’s decision to close the site.

According to local sources and local media, the company, on July 21, 2024, notified workers of its decision to suspend all construction projects on the Agadem site, due to the deteriorating security situation throughout Niger. Consequently, the company said it was putting its employees on leave until the security situation improved.

However, it is owing the workers salaries and they have vowed to receive their salaries before proceeding on the indefinite leave or what some of them consider as a “dismissal”.

On Wednesday, the workers reportedly blocked the exit of the camp to any Chinese personnel or trucks.

According to Journal du Niger (Niger Journal), “the workers are demanding the immediate payment of their salaries and severance pay, in accordance with labour legislation in force in Niger.

“The situation remains tense on the ground and negotiations between employee representatives and CNPC management have not yet resulted in an agreement. The Nigerien authorities, who are informed of the situation, are closely monitoring developments,” the report further read.

Read: NLC Denies Withdrawing From Planned Protest, Stands In Solidarity With The People

• Netflix Increases Subscription Prices In Nigeria For The Second Time In 3 Months
• Sudan War: RSF Leader Agrees To Attend US-Mediated Ceasefire Talks

About The Author

Oluwatobi Odeyinka

author

See author's posts