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22 March, 2010
Gabon’s oil workers agreed to call off a strike that was to begin 13 March, when government officials entered into negotiations with the 20,000-member National Organisation of Petroleum Workers (ONEP). The strike was set to commence over Gabon’s set of revised regulations governing the sector.
The government has angered workers in the sector by proposing to place the energy sector onto the list of services that must remain uninterrupted, together with health services and transport. The move would make it impossible for workers to take legitimate strike action in future disputes, and would undermine an equal playing field regarding collective bargaining. The industry already suffers from unequal and low salary levels, as well as inadequate protection over working hours.
Both sides have announced their commitment to reaching agreement soon, and open negotiations are continuing in the West African country.
The strike threatened to halt production of about 250,000 barrels of crude per day in Gabon, Africa's seventh largest producer.