Algeria: Sonatrach’s workers call on President Bouteflika to stop pay raise

Workers at production section of Algeria’s energy group Sonatrach rejected a decision taken on July 15th to grant incentive pays up to 30 percent for high qualified engineers and technicians.

• The workers asked Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to urgently intervene and stop what they describe as “Administrative illegal practices.”
• According to them, the administration hastened the implementation of the agreement reached with Sonatrach’s union after long months of negotiations. They indicated that those practices are meant to shake their social stability, unity and harmony, which have characterized Sonatrach staff and its various branches for years.
•  
• They also said skilled and high positioned engineers and technicians in production section will not be motivated to stay in the group by illegal raise of 30 percent.
•  
• They confirmed that high qualified workers in foreign companies in southern Algeria, near Sonatrach’s branches benefit from enormous increases up to 300 percent and not 30 percent.
•  
• Some 30 percent of bonuses can not be granted for 1,200 high qualified engineers and technicians while depriving thousands of workers of similar increases, they added. About 120 engineers and technicians have left Sonatrach since 2000.