EDL Contract Workers End Strike after Energy Minister Announces Agreement

An almost three-year crisis at Electiricte du Liban ended on Friday under an initiative sponsored by Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

Energy Minister Arthur Nazarian announced that the ministry agreed with the EDL contract workers, who have been occupying the company's headquarters in Beirut's Mar Mikhael area for the past four months, to end the crisis based on an accord that respects the law.

Nazarian considered in a press conference from the Energy Ministry that the agreement appeases the fears of the contract workers.

For his part, Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb, who is loyal to Jumblat, lauded the agreement, saying that the aim is to “preserve the unity of EDL employees.”

Head of EDL contract workers committee Lebnan Makhoul said in another press conference at EDL's HQ that they decided to “lift our strike and open the gates of the company.”

The contract workers voiced gratitude to Berri, Jumblat and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun for exerting efforts to end the crisis.

They have been demanding their full-time employment and the payment of their salaries.

“We will lift our strike after taking into consideration the security, social and economy situation and to preserve the company,” Makhoul added.

However, Makhoul vowed to follow up the implementation of the agreement and the qualification exams until they reach their full-time employment.

During their four-month strike the contract workers have erected tents at the company's headquarters in Mar Mikhael and closed its gates, a move which EDL has deemed an “occupation.”

EDL's board of directors has claimed that a law adopted by parliament earlier this year only allows 897 out of the nearly 2,000 workers to become full-timers.

The original agreement stated that around 1,800 contract employees would be upgraded to full-timers, however, the draft-law said that all workers should undergo an exam to determine their qualifications and those who pass would be upgraded.

The contract workers reject to undergo exams by Civil Service Commission and demand exams to be held by the company under CSC supervision.

The original agreement had also said that the contract workers who fail would get a compensation amounting to two-month salary/year, however, under the draft-law the compensation would amount to one-month wage per year.

Most contract employees are loyal to Berri, who is the head of AMAL movement.

Later on Friday, EDL urged all workers and employees to report to work at its headquarters in Mar Mikhael on Saturday morning.

H.K.

G.K.