Hotel and restaurant owners increasingly resorting to cheaper foreign labor

The Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, met last week with a delegation of the Trade Union of Hotels and Restaurant Workers to discuss the fact that many businesses in this sector are resorting to employing foreign staff at lower wages rather than local staff especially since Lebanese hospitality staff are facing unemployment and are being forced to migrate to the Gulf in order to find jobs.  The Minister instructed the Inspection Directorate in his Ministry to raid hotels and restaurants that are hiring foreigners illegally and take on legal measures against them.
The meeting also discussed the numerous complaints issued by employees and workers and which are not being processed on time due to their large number and the unavailability of sufficient arbitration courts.  The Minister informed the trade union that he will call the Ministry of Justice and suggest that they increase the number of arbitration courts to resolve all pending files.
Source: Al-Nahar 15 March 2014