The current Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, announced that his Ministry is about issue a decree which will define professions that are “exclusive for the Lebanese” and which will be endorsed by next Monday. Azzi insisted that giving priority to Lebanese nationals is not a racist act and does not target anybody in particular. Azzi further clarified that this decision is due to the increased migration of the Lebanese caused by unemployment and the influx of Syrian labor, adding that this move will protect the Lebanese labor which is subjected to “exploitation and blackmail”. Azzi was speaking during a round table discussion organized by the Lebanese Businessmen Association (LBA) yesterday, which aimed at discussing various social projects suggested by the LBA in addition to reviewing the needed legal reforms for an enabling business environment
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Safir, Al-Diyar, Al-Hayat, Al-Nahar 12 December 2014