Officials said thousands of civil servants and others have walked off
the job in what has disrupted the sheikdom's energy industry. They said the
strike, which erupted despite a government offer of huge pay raises, has
suspended shipping traffic, including oil exports.
"We are ready to bring in laborers from inside or outside Kuwait to
conduct work in an appropriate manner," Kuwait State Minister Ali Al Rashed
said.
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The labor unrest began in late September amid demands by civil servants
for higher pay and increased benefits.
On Oct. 11, more than 3,000 customs
officers walked off their jobs, halting traffic in oil terminals and
ports. In contrast, state oil employees, who also threatened a walkout, have
been given pay increases of up to 66 percent.