Electricite du Liban Director General Kamal al-Hayek said on Thursday that the EDL is not a “barn,” denying that the law allows all contract workers to become full-time employees.
Al-Hayek's comments were made during a press conference held at the Zouk power plant north of Beirut during which he noted that the law grants "full authority to the EDL to decide on its needs for full-time employees."
Al-Hayek also denied that the law allows all workers to participate in exams to become full-timers.
Al-Hayek stressed the provision of power would be disrupted if the protests of the EDL contract workers continue.
Following his press conference, the workers reiterated in a statement that the EDL "is not abiding by the law."
They also stressed that the contracts of EDL with private firms will expire in 2016, which will lead to more vacancies that should be filled by contract workers.
The workers also vowed to continue their protests until their demands are met.
On Wednesday, EDL contract workers gathered outside the headquarters of the company in Corniche el-Nahr to protest the failure to grant them full-time employment at the company.
During the gathering, member of the EDL contract workers follow up committee Bilal Bajouk stated that officials are manipulating the law pertaining to their employment at the committee.
For his part, the head of EDL workers committee Lebnan Makhoul stated that he is keen on the work of the institution and on public funds, adding that concerned officials are accusing them of disrupting the work of the company.
On Tuesday, a delegation of the EDL contract workers met with Minister of Energy Arthur Nazarian.
Following the meeting, the workers declared that negotiations with Minister Nazaraian had failed, stressing that they will continue their open-ended strike.
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.
For more details, watch Dalal Mawad's full report in the video above
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