REPORT:Breakthrough in PAC dismissed employees crisis,protest movements called off

Upon an initiative launched by the CEO of the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI) Sheikh Pierre El Daher and announced from Bkerke, the salaries due to the 397 employees dismissed by Production and Acquisition Company (PAC) for two months and 10 days will be paid before the end of this month. In addition to this, those among them who are still unemployed will receive 90% of their dismissal compensations.      

Archbishop Boulos Sayah said that compensations will be paid to those who have not yet found a job and will be later returned with 0% interest rate.   

“We thank Sheikh Pierre El Daher for this initiative but the solution to this case does not only depend on him since he is not the only one concerned here,” he said, hoping that all concerned parties will cooperate just like Daher did to end this issue.   

The remaining dues included in the agreement signed between the employees and PAC under the auspices of the Labor Ministry will be related to the liquidation. Sayah stressed that he will follow up on the case which is no longer in Lebanon.     

While Sheikh Pierre El Daher took positive steps in this case, it is hoped that the other concerned party will take action to solve the issue of compensations due to all the dismissed employees.       

Response of dismissed employees        

Later on, the employees laid off by both PAC and LBCI issued a statement whereby they announced that they called off all movements they had planned, including the movement which was due today towards the Christmas Tree in the Martyrs’ Square and the large sit-in expected for December 22, 2012 outside PAC.

This step was taken in the wake of the successful initiative launched by Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Beshara Rai represented by his Deputy General Archbishop Boulos Sayah. The initiative resulted in an agreement to grant PAC’s employees their rights and salaries.

The employees thanked all colleagues and all those who responded to Bkerke’s initiative including Sheikh Pierre El Daher. They reiterated their thanks to Archbishop Sayah and all those who responded to his initiative.