While the families of the 23 persons arrested in Kukës protest outside the court of Tirana, oil workers in Ballsh are protesting unpaid wages and are uncertain about when they will begin work at the refinery again. The refinery has been out of work ever since previous investor IRTC went bankrupt, leaving unpaid taxes at the value of €60 million.
Oil workers clashed with police as they attempted to enter the refinery.
The protesters demand a meeting with the administrator of Bylis Energy, the company newly responsible for managing the Ballsh refinery. The administrator refused these demands, and has managed to leave the building with the help of the police when the workers stormed the refinery.
The oil workers claim that neither the newcomer managing company, nor the previous one, nor the state are willing to take responsibility and pay the 1,000 oil workers’ 15 unpaid monthly wages, as well as their social and health insurances.
Oil workers also complain that they are unaware of when the refinery will begin working again. They are currently unemployed, their families deprived of an income.
Workers warned that if the company and the government keep ignoring their demands they will make their way to Tirana and their protests will escalate.
