Former oil facility security workers protest in Iraq's Basra over unpaid dues

BASRA, Iraq — More than 450 former security workers who had guarded oil facilities gathered outside the headquarters of Italian energy company Eni in the Burjisiyeh area of Basra, protesting the termination of their contracts and unpaid entitlements. The workers said they were employed by the British firms Eadge and GW on Eni's security projects at the Zubair oil field. Workers' representative Ahmed Mohammed said the two companies notified employees in May that the contracts would end on August 8. He told protesters that they signed the termination notices after being told they would be hired by the company taking over a new security tender and that their previous employer would settle their dues. Mohammed said end-of-service benefits have not been paid and the workers were not subsequently employed by the new contractor. He said more than 450 workers have lost their jobs and called on Iraqi authorities and Eni to resolve the issue. No immediate response from Eni or the contractors was reported.