KUWAIT: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) will continue with its ‘rationalization’ program including reduction in salaries, benefits and other incentives of staff despite oil workers’ unions threats to strike. “KPC has a strategic plan ready to face any strikes,” said unnamed sources within the industry quoted by the Al-Anbaa Arabic daily newspaper.

The sources noted that the National Guards and oil facilities security staff would be used to run operations in case a strike takes place. The sources added that crews hired by contractors and expatriate employees would also be used to do the jobs of Kuwaiti employees on strike. Employees who strike will also be penalized for it.

Notably, oil sector syndicates have called on all members to meet today to decide on and declare measures to reject a ‘payroll strategic alternative project’ which would threaten salaries and benefits. They worry that the conflict will reach a dead end unless the government interferes and discusses the problem with oil syndicates and employee’s unions. Speaking on the occasion, the head of the KOC employees syndicate, Salah Al-Marzouq urged oil employees in general, and those of KOC in particular, to attend a rally today to declare their absolute rejection of KPC’s plan to reduce incentives. “Oil employees’ jobs are so dangerous. They deal with hazardous, toxic and lethal gases, heights, dangerous drilling and operational units as well as remnant explosives leftover since the Iraqi invasion,” Marzouq said.

Chairman of KNPC’s employees syndicate Mohamed Al-Hajri stressed that his syndicate would fully cooperate with the oil employees union and other syndicates to protect employees rights. He added that today’s meeting at the union’s headquarters in Ahmadi would sound a loud message against attempts to undermine those rights. “Employees’ responses will rock and everybody will realize that they cannot be taken as scapegoats,” he underscored accusing oil sector officials’ unsuccessful policies of forcing competent staff to quit working for the sector. — Al-Anbaa