Dozens of employees of the Basra Oil Company staged a large-scale demonstration on Tuesday in front of the British Petroleum (BP) building at the Rumaila oil field, demanding payment of wages withheld over the past four years.

The demonstrators, who blocked access to the BP building during the protest, called for the enforcement of provisions in their contracts with BP. They accused the company of failing to pay their wages for 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, despite other oil companies recently fulfilling similar obligations.

“We have been waiting for years, and yet nothing has been done. It’s time for our voices to be heard,” said one protester.

Iraq, with 145 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, is the second-largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) after Saudi Arabia. The country’s oil sector, which produces about five million barrels per day, accounts for more than 90% of government revenue.

However, disputes over wages, profit-sharing, and employment rights are longstanding challenges within the industry. The Basra Oil Company employees argue that their demands underscore the need for equitable treatment and strict adherence to contractual commitments, particularly in a sector that forms the backbone of Iraq’s economy.

As of Tuesday evening, neither BP nor the Basra Oil Company had issued a formal response to the protesters' demands. The situation remains tense, with employees vowing to continue their demonstrations until their grievances are addressed.