REPORT: Parliament passes contract workers law with proposed...

3^min

The Parliament passed on Wednesday the draft law presented by deputies Ibrahim Kanaan, Ali Ammar and Ali Bazzi, which aims at filling the vacant position at the Electricité Du Liban company, following a skill test limited to the contract workers, the on-demand workers and bill collectors.

The draft law also stipulates that two-month compensations should be granted to those who are over 56 years old.

In this context, MP Ali Bazzi said the deputies agreed upon the proposals presented by the contract workers, stressing keenness on meeting all the rightful and just social demands in accordance with the available capabilities.

For his part, MP Ibrahim Kanaan stressed his commitment to the issue of the contract workers and the series of ranks and salaries, noting that the amendments requested by the contract workers were included in the approved law.

In turn, MP Ali Ammar congratulated the EDL contract workers, hoping that the ranks and salaries series will be taken care of by the concerned parliamentary blocs.

The EDL contract workers had staged a symbolic sit-in at the company’s premises in Cornishe al-Naher and at the other branches across the country, while awaiting the outcome of the parliamentary session.

The sit-in coincides with a general strike and central sit-in staged by Union Coordinating Committee to denounce the procrastination in passing the series of ranks and salaries for public sector employees

EDL contract workers have been protesting for months calling on the government to employ them as full-time staff and to pay their salaries.

Their protests have included shutting the gates of EDL headquarters in Beirut and disrupting normal work at the state-run company.

Maternity Leave

On another note, the parliament passed a law extending a woman's maternity leave to ten weeks instead of seven.

Forming a Notaries Public Committee:

Parliament also formed a committee tasked with studying a law pertaining to the notaries public tenure-ship. The committee includes Minister of Justice Ashraf Rifi and MPs Samir Jisr, Nawar al Sahili, Georges Adwan and Nadim Gemayel.

Civil Defense Directorate

The parliament deferred discussions over the re-organization of the Civil Defense Directorate until next week under the request of Minister of Interior Nouhad Machnouq.

For his part, Speaker Nabih Berri scheduled a general parliamentary session for next Wednesday and Thursday.

To watch Maroun Nassif's report, please click on the VIDEO above