Daily Star.com.lb BEIRUT:
The Labor Ministry Thursday vowed to protect the Lebanese workforce,
warning that it would take legal action against the recent dismissal of
Lebanese employees working for international companies in the country.
In a statement, the ministry said it had recently received requests from
international organizations wishing to fire hundreds of Lebanese
nationals. These organizations included Relief International, service
company OSSC, Awtar restaurant, Save the Children and the Danish Refugee
Council. “Last week, the ministry received requests from Save the
Children and the Danish Refugee Council in Lebanon to let go of a large
portion of their Lebanese workers without giving any reasons,” the
statement said. It added that Save the Children had already dismissed
280 Lebanese from a total of 585 workers and the Danish Refugee Council
had fired 386 Lebanese from its 728 workers. The ministry said that
hotels were also letting go of their Lebanese workforce. The Labor
Ministry condemned what it said was a “deliberate replacement of
Lebanese workers” with foreigners, particularly Syrian nationals,
warning the organizations of taking necessary legal measures to protect
the Lebanese labor force.