BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 23 (NNN-NNA) – Palestinian refugees demonstrated for the seventh consecutive day, in south Lebanon’s Sidon, to protest against measures adopted by the Labour Ministry.
The Palestinians also shut down all entrances leading to the Ain El Helwe camp, while burning tires and vowing to take escalatory measures, if the Labour Minister does not exempt Palestinians from work permits.
The ministry issued a statement saying that the proper implementation of the labour law is in favour of the Palestinians in Lebanon because it allows them to access their rights contrary to working in the black market.
Early in June, Labour Minister, Camille Abousleiman, gave employers and workers a one-month grace period, which expired on July 10, to apply for a work permit.
Since then, the Labour Ministry has closed down dozens of shops and fined many more, if they were found to employ foreign workers without work permits.
Such situation has sparked anger among the Palestinians, who labelled the decision as “unfair,” while prompting them to wage demonstrations all over Lebanon, to protest against the ministry’s measures.
The Palestinians have, on many occasions, called upon the government to give them equal treatment to the Lebanese, since they have been living in Lebanon for their entire lives.– NNN-NNA
