Nodate has been setforthe talks, buttheissueis expected to be on the agenda at the upcomingArabsummitinDamascusscheduled to take placeat the end of March.
Under a deal already agreed between management and the unions, there will be no redundancies before the end of March and a controversial new shift will be discussed as part of wider pay negotiations.
Given that tax issues overhanging that pool of liquidity retained overseas are likely to daunt company treasurers, speculation swirled that borrowings could quickly mount to the tens of billions of dollars, versus no debt outstanding as of the end of March.