Ministry inspection campaign targeting foreign labor

The Ministry of Labor announced yesterday that the Minister of Labor Mohammad Kabbarah has instructed the inspection bureau at the Ministry to carry out a comprehensive campaign targeting foreign business owners and foreign employees who work for Lebanese or foreign businesses. The Minister demanded strict implementation of inspection procedures and called on all violators to adhere to the provisions of laws and decrees in force, under penalty of legal action that may lead to closure. On another matter, the executive council of the Union of Syndicates of Construction and Timber Industry Workers led by Mursil Mursil issued yesterday a statement requesting government’s approval of long held labor demands, while condemning the arbitrary and unchecked dismissal of local labor and its replacement with foreign workers. The statement also called for limiting the issuing of work permits in order to protect Lebanese labor from unemployment and emigration, and submitted several trade union demands the foremost of which were: the right to housing, health, education, electricity, water, work, pay, social security, as well as the right of construction laborers to social security benefits, comprehensive health coverage and pension. (Al Mustaqbal and Daily Star, January, 10, 2017)