EDL Contract Employees Strike Ongoing in Beirut

Electricite du Liban's contract employees held a protest on Monday near the company’s headquarters in Beirut, the National News Agency reported.

The demonstrators headed to Riad al-Solh square, holding banners that condemn the cabinet’s failure to approve their full-time employment draft law.

Later, a delegation headed to the parliament building and handed over a memo that includes all their demands.

Al-Jadeed television reported that the protesters are blocking Mar Mikhael road with burning tires.

“We are the essence of this institution that they have been trying to collapse for several years, but we were able to safeguard it,” Ahmed Shouaib said on behalf of protesters during the demonstration.

He demanded the ministers and MPs to “seriously work” on giving them their legal rights.

EDL contract employees held sit-ins last week in several areas across Lebanon.

The Committee of EDL Contract Workers and Collectors said in a statement that some employees have been contract workers for over 20 years.

It stressed that last week’s protests were “very serious,” criticizing plans suggested by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil to turn the company into a public-private partnership.

“EDL doesn’t need these (private) companies, it’s capable of handling its own services as EDL has efficient engineers and electricians, who are able to develop the company without any need to sell it or trade with it,” the statement said.