REPORT: Sheikh Pierre El-Daher meets with Pac dismissed employees

A group of “PAC” employees gathered on Saturday for the second time in two weeks outside the company’s offices in Adma after 7 months of constantly demanding the payment of their compensations.  

The demonstrators previously contacted the ISF who informed them that they are allowed to protest outside the company but forbade them from entering its premises "since it’s a private institution". During the demonstration, some employees tried to enter PAC’s building to deliver a letter for the participants in “Celebrity Duets” show, which lead to a clash with ISF members.  

One employee managed to get hold of a security members baton, using it to beat him on his head. This consequently led the military personnelto seek immediate medical assistance.  For their part, ISF members caused the injury of around 15 dismissed employees.

In this regard, Interior Minister Marwan Charbel contacted LBCI’s Chairman Sheikh Pierre El Daher, asking him to receive some of the employees to calm the situation. Accordingly, 3 of the dismissed employees met with Sheikh Pierre El Daher in his office and informed him of the difficulties facing the families of the employees who have yet to receive their compensations.

For his part, Sheikh Pierre El Daher told the delegation that PAC’s owner Emir Al-Walid Ben Talal declared the liquidation of the company and not its bankruptcy, mandating the liquidation to a company by the name of FTI Consulting Company based in Hong Kong. Thus, the payment of the compensations of the dismissed employees and the rest of the debtors is related to the company’s liquidation.  

Sheikh Pierre El Daher added that since the company in Hong Kong is in charge of the liquidation, the demands to pay the compensations should be referred to this company alone.  

Sheikh Pierre El Daher also stressed that since day one of the partnership dissolution with PAC, he was committed to preserving the rights of the 397 dismissed employees via the 4 following means:    

Allowing the employees to receive the best compensation conditions as per the laws of the Ministry of Labor.

Coordinating with the ministry, the Social Security Fund and the company in Hong Kong in charge of the liquidation to ensure the payment as soon as possible; this was obviously translated by the payment of the Social Security Fund compensations to 221 employees that reached in total more than $4 Million.

Ensuring the employment of a large number of the dismissed employees; in fact, 331 out of 397 were hired.Establishing a cohesion fund that offers temporary advances until the whole compensation amounts are paid.      

In this context, Sheikh Pierre El Daher announced that he is still committed to working with the company in Hong Kong in charge of the liquidation who finally promised to take procedural steps.  

Prior to the meeting between Sheikh Pierre El Daher and the delegation representing PAC dismissed employees, Sheikh Pierre El Daher received a phone call from Vicar General of the Maronite Patriarchate Archbishop Boulos Sayah who was commissioned by Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros Rai a few months ago to follow up the case.  

Archbishop Sayah kindly asked Sheikh Pierre El Daher to find a radical solution for this issue with the company in charge of the liquidation and to find a temporary solution before the holiday season.  

For his part, Sheikh Pierre El Daher promised to make all the necessary contacts and to inform Sayah of the results by Monday.

This as circulating information reported that the security apparatuses received information prior to the demonstration in Adma about the possibility of witnessing similar protests outside Four Seasons and Movenpick hotels in Beirut owned by Emir Al-Walid Ben Talal, whith demonstrators will distribute flyers to the hotels’ guests.



For the full LBCI report, please click on the video above