Solution to Contract Workers Crisis Imminent, Sit-in to End after Talks with Jreissati, GLC
The EDL contract workers committee on Thursday announced that a meeting will be held with the General Labor Confederation and the political forces that contributed to resolving their problem, noting that “there is a positive atmosphere although some formalities remain pending.”
“We will go home but the sit-in will remain in place until we hold our meeting with the labor minister, the (political) forces concerned and the GLC,” state-run National News Agency quoted the committee as saying.
Positive indications have surfaced since Tuesday concerning an imminent end to the long-running sit-in, amid reports that the differences have been bridged between Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Michel Aoun.
Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, Berri’s political aide, announced earlier on Thursday after a cabinet session that “the issue of EDL contract workers will be resolved today and the sit-in will be lifted immediately.”
Meanwhile, LBCI television reported that “under the agreement reached over the issue of EDL contract workers, those who took part in the sit-in will not be prosecuted and the salaries of the past three months will be paid by the services companies.”
“Negotiations will be held soon between the representatives of the labor ministry, the GLC and EDL contract workers concerning the expected amendments to the draft law which will be approved during the next parliamentary session,” LBCI added.
Labor Minister Salim Jreissati “will be asked to set a timeframe for the launch of negotiations and another sit-in would be staged in case of procrastination.”
EDL contract workers “will have the option to sign contracts with the services companies and those who don’t want to can await the contest,” said LBCI.
“Those who succeed in the contest will be hired (by EDL) on a permanent basis while those who fail will have the option to either sign contracts with the services companies or to quit and receive compensations,” LBCI added.
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