Joined: 05 Oct 2005
Posts: 315
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Libya will raise the wages of government employees and workers in state-owned companies up to 275 per cent, the son of leader Muammar Gaddafi said.
Gaddafi has repeatedly urged the government to improve the living conditions of the population and spread oil revenues more fairly. Islam said the minimum monthly wage for civil servants would rise 110 per cent from next month. The minimum stands at 200 Libyan dinars ($155). Salaries of Libyans working in state-owned oil companies will jump 275 per cent. Libya is an Opec member. Saif Al Islam, Gaddafi's son and most trusted envoy, made the announcement during a meeting of top government officials, underlining his role in influencing Libya's domestic policy even though he has no official government position. He has repeatedly called for bold political and economic reforms, including raising wages, to free the country and its five million population from the shackles of what he calls the 'Libyan mafia' that controls power and wealth. Most of Libya's workers are civil servants, estimated at 800,000. Thousands of them are 'shadow employees', getting monthly salaries without going to work for years, according to government officials who spoke privately. Social welfare allowances will increase between 45 per cent and 100 per cent depending on the number of family members. Almost half of Libya's 1.2 million families get such allowances which could total up to 300 dinars per month for an average family of five, officials said.Reuters |
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