Bassil Warns EDL Contract Worker’s Strike Affects Company, Electricity

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Thursday that the electricity crisis in Lebanon might worsen during the upcoming days as Electricite du Liban's contract employees’ strike is affecting the company’s work.

“The full-time employees have informed me that they can’t tolerate the ongoing situation as the strike is affecting their work,” Bassil told As Safir newspaper.

He noted that the contract workers’ strike also stopped the company’s income from electricity bills and accumulated the electricity damages, noting that the salaries of the other employees will be jeopardized.

The minister reiterated that Lebanon plunge in darkness over the strike.

Bassil pointed out that the cabinet supports his proposal to resolve the contract employees’ demands.

“I insisted on making most of them full-time employees and referring others to private companies as EDL can’t include everyone,” Bassil noted.

He accused some sides affiliated in the March 14-led opposition of inciting the contract workers to escalate their measures.

Sources close to the Committee of EDL Contract Workers and Collectors told As Safir that Speaker Nabih Berri referred a draft law on turning the contract workers into full-time employees to the joint parliamentary committees to resolve their problem.

The head of the parliamentary public works and transport committee, MP Mohammed Qabbani, told An Nahar newspaper that the escalatory measures taken by EDL contract workers forced Berri to interfere.

“We should find a fair solution to these employees,” Qabbani said.

Sources close to the protesters slammed the cabinet’s attempt to ink contracts with private companies that are not transparent and don’t provide them with their rights.

“We demand the cabinet to increase the number of full-time employees as there are around 1,750 out of 2,300 contract employees that deserve to become full-time employees,” the sources told As Safir newspaper.

On Wednesday, the contract workers escalated their protests after the security forces prevented them from entering the company’s premises in Mar Mikhael, which prompted them to storm the building.

Later, a delegation held a meeting with Interior Minister Marwan Charbel who agreed to refer their demands to the cabinet.

The contract employees, who have been protesting for the past four weeks, are demanding their full-time employment.