Libya wage protests spread to healthcare and education sectors

Widespread salary protests and strikes have expanded across western Libya as various public sector workers demand higher pay and the settlement of overdue financial entitlements from the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU).

Teachers’ unions initiated an open-ended strike on September 7, citing insufficient monthly salaries of approximately 2,000 Libyan dinars and demanding better health insurance and teaching-hour allowances. The unrest has since spread to the healthcare and energy sectors. Medical staff at Al-Khadra and Zuwara hospitals have joined partial strikes, citing severe resource shortages and wages that do not reflect the risks and responsibilities of their roles.

The General Syndicate for Allied Medical Professions and other labor groups have criticized the government for granting salary increases to certain groups while leaving healthcare workers and educators to face rising living costs without comparable adjustments.