Tripoli: The General Union of Oil and Gas Workers has raised concerns about the significant dangers posed by the continued delay in the approval of the sector's budget. The union described the delay as an existential threat to both workers and the infrastructure of the sector, with far-reaching implications for the country's financial and economic stability.
According to Libyan News Agency, the union issued a statement highlighting that the delay in budget approval is an "unjustified obstruction" affecting a crucial sector that serves as the sole source of funding for the general budget. This delay impacts the payment of state employee salaries and the financing of essential service sectors, including health, education, and security.
The union further explained that the consequences of this delay are already visible. There is a paralysis of training and development programs, disruption in the healthcare system for its members, accumulation of debts owed to suppliers, delays in disbursing financial entitlements, and deterioration of occupational safety standards within oil facilities.
Emphasizing the seriousness of the situation, the union stated that these issues are early warnings of the potential collapse of the country's economic cycle. It warned that any disruption in the flow of funding to the oil sector would directly influence the state's capability to fulfill its obligations to its citizens.
The union also cautioned that the ongoing situation might result in the shutdown of oil and gas facilities, leading to a complete paralysis of state institutions. It assigned historical and moral responsibility to those obstructing the approval of the national budget.
In its call to action, the General Union of Oil and Gas Workers urged all executive and legislative authorities to urgently approve the sector's budget. The union stressed that resolving the current crisis in the oil sector is vital for ensuring the nation's stability and securing the future of its people.