Azzi suspends 65 MWDW employment agencies and focuses on competition from Syrian labor

Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi ordered a temporary shut down of some 65 violating migrant domestic workers recruiting agencies until they comply with Ministry rules banning the advertising of services which are in clear breach of human rights. In another development, Azzi met with a delegation of the Union of Hotel, Restaurant, Food and Entertainment Employees and Workers headed by Beshara Shayya and General Director, Fawzi Hashem. Shayya urged all parties involved to observe decrees issued since 1950 that regulate work in those sectors. He pointed out to the subject of unlawful competition of Syrian labor in all industries, particularly in the hospitality sector. Other topics included the right to pension and social protection which as Shayya noted has been subject of deliberation for 25 years. The Labor Minister later received another trade union delegation of the Union of Syndicates of Construction and Timber Industry Workers led by Mursil Mursil, who handed him a memo demanding inclusion of construction workers in the social security system and warning against arbitrary layoffs. The Memo also called for increased tightening on permits to foreign workers, namely, Syrians and for improving and upgrading inspection and monitoring systems. (As Safir, Al Diyar, 25 March 2015)