Labor minister keen on protecting rights of migrant workers

In her follow up on the conditions of foreign workers in Lebanon, the minister of labor, Lamya Yammin met yesterday with a delegation of the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut led by the Charge d’Affaires. The meeting focused on regulating the sector and the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers from the Ethiopian nationality to their country. Yammin also discussed challenges workers face as a result of the distressing circumstances inflicted by the Corona pandemic. She stressed the need to coordinate with the ministry in order to safeguard the rights of foreign laborers. To be noted that the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers has started today according to a joint decision between the government and the concerned embassies which indicated their willingness to host their citizens.  According to Al Akhbar newspapers, this will allow local employers to do away with their dues vis-a-vis their former employees especially simce many have stopped paying their wages following the rise in the value of USD. (Al Diyar, May 20, 2020)