Hayek Warns of EDL’s Collapse as Contract Workers Begin Hunger Strike
Electricte du Liban director-general Kamal al-Hayek warned on Monday of the company’s collapse due to the ongoing protests by the contract workers as the employees began a hunger strike.
LBC television reported that the employees moved their strike tent inside the company’s premises, announcing a hunger strike until the cabinet achieves their demands.
The contract workers are demanding the company to pay their June and July salaries and for the cabinet to publish their permanent employment decision in the official gazette.
The contract workers at Mar Mikhael also closed the cash registers.
Internal Security Forces reopened Riyaq-Baalbek international road after EDL employees in the area blocked it by forming a human chain.
ISF also halted an attempt by the employees in Batroun to close the gates of the company in the area.
Hayek warned later about the company's collapse if contract workers continue with their protests.
“The protest of the EDL contract workers is preventing maintenance work and would lead to the failure to pay the salaries of the company’s employees,” Hayek said in a press conference following talks with Energy Minister Jebran Bassil.
He revealed that a meeting will be held on Tuesday with Bassil, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi to address the issue.
On Saturday, EDL approved paying the contract workers their salaries on the condition of handing over the bills and funds they refrained to give to the company since they began their protests three months ago.
The contract workers warned on Friday that they would take “unprecedented” escalatory measures if their salaries were not paid before Monday.
The parliament’s approval earlier this month of a decision taken by the joint parliamentary committees to permanently employ EDL contract workers created a rift between the March 8 allies, as the Free Patriotic Movement accused Hizbullah of being a “spectator” and Speaker Nabih Berri of violating the protocol.
The Christian lawmakers boycotted the parliament to protest the approval of the joint parliamentary committees’ arguing that the permanent employment of those workers would destabilize the sectarian balance at EDL as around 80 percent of them belong to non-Christian sects and most of them support Berri, who is a Shiite.
EDL contract workers will have to sit for a closed exam, which will be held by the Civil Service Board.
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