More xenophobic statements by the Minister of Labor on unemployment

The current Minister of Labor navigates the various employment fairs organised by Universities in Lebanon where he predicts doom and loom in unemployment while linking it simplistically the presence of foreigners in the country.  Recently, the Minister inaugurated the employment fair organised by AUST and noted that Lebanon is going through an unprecedented unemployment crisis as a result of the situation of Lebanon and the attempts to destabilise the state's infrastructure, in addition to Lebanon's 72 billion USD debt, the repercussions of the Syrian war and the presence of Palestinian and Lebanese refugees.  Azzi added that whilst Lebanon's population is less than 4 million, Lebanon hosts 1.7 million Syrians and half a million Palestinian refugees in addition to other foreign nationalities.  According to Azzi, when 53% of the population are non-Lebanese, then this will undoubtedly create an unemployment crisis.  Azzi concluded by saying that "350000 young people graduate every year at a time when the job market produces only 4000 jobs annually thus leaving 30000 young people without jobs".  To be noted that the said event included the participation of 120 companies from the tourism, industrial, banking. media, ICT, design, insurance and marketing sectors.  (Al-Diyar May 10 2016)

 

 

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