Fighting foreign work force: bakeries raise price of bread

Following protests by Palestinian refugees against ministry of labor’s plan to bring down what it calls “illegal workforce”, voices of dissent came this time from concerned industrialists and unions. To this end, a delegation of the Union of Owners of Bakeries in Lebanon, led by Kazem Ibrahim, discussed with minister Wael Abu Faour repercussions of the labor ministry’s request requiring employers of foreign laborers to cover them in social security and provide them with a work permit and health insurance. This, Ibrahim explained, is costly and detrimental to the sector, especially with the reluctance of Lebanese workers to work in bakeries. Raising the cost of production of a baguette of bread will increase the burden on consumers, not by a fragment of LBP 150 or 100 but significantly more. On the other hand, the Gathering of Shweifat and Environs Industrialists, which covers around 100 plants and factories, held a press conference yesterday to evaluate effects of the new labor ministry directive. Participants voiced fears on how the situation is developing. They called on the labor minister and the General Security department to give a 6-month grace period in order to settle the status of foreign workers, demanding a reduction of fees and an annulment of charges amassed during said period. Stressing that industrialists are law people, the gathering maintained that the above measure remains incomplete if not propped by reforms to support and protect national industry against smuggling and dumping. On the subject, Al Akhbar reported that opposition was expected from stakeholders who accrued profits over the years at the expense of foreign labor by sidestepping the law and denying their workers social security or legal work permits. (Al Akhbar, Al Diyar, July 19, 2019)
 

Previous related news:
Combatting illegal foreign workforce in Lebanon