TIRANA, Nov 1 /ATA/ After 17 days on hunger strike, oil workers at “Bankers Petroleum” in Marinëz, Fier, have decided to call off the strike and continue their demonstrations through protests.
Ten employees had been on hunger strike demanding pay raises and improved working conditions, while the remaining staff joined the action by refusing to work.
During a meeting on Friday evening, the oil workers decided to end their hunger strike, citing the worsening health of the seven remaining strikers and an assessment of the strike’s overall progress.
In a statement released on social media, the Hydrocarbon Sector Union said that in recent days, the workers had faced “stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and mounting pressure to return to work.” The union accused the company of creating “exploitative schemes through subcontractors,” which it said harm both subcontracted employees and Bankers staff through low pay, temporary contracts, and constant pressure for renewal.
The union stated that the company’s stance had also influenced their decision to end the hunger strike.
“In recent days, the company has shown nothing but irresponsibility, silence, irony, and intimidation, leaving workers exposed for days on end,” the statement said.
“Given these circumstances, and to avoid further risking the health of the strikers, it was decided to bring the hunger strike to an end,” the union added.
The union confirmed that the workers’ strike will continue, with the next protest scheduled for Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 12:15 p.m., outside the Bankers Petroleum offices in Fier.
It added that more demonstrations will be held in the coming days, according to a schedule to be set by the union.
The union reported that it met yesterday with Minister of Economy Delina Ibrahimaj, presenting all the workers’ concerns and calling for an immediate resolution to the ongoing situation.
According to the union, Ibrahimaj pledged that the ministry would give priority to addressing these issues and would serve as a mediator in facilitating an agreement between the parties.
The union has outlined several key demands, including an 18% increase in the overall wage fund, with the raise directed primarily toward field workers and lower-paid employees. It also calls for the full enforcement of the Oil Workers’ Status Law and alignment of job positions accordingly, merit-based promotions instead of personal favoritism, fair allocation of bonuses to narrow the gap between management and staff, and an increase in the monthly meal allowance from 9,000 to 13,200 lek.
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