Access to socio-eco rights

EDL per diem workers block roads as protests continue

Electricite du Liban per diem workers blocked roads in Beirut’s Corniche al-Nahr, for the second time in less than ten days, to protest a lack of long-term contracts and the ongoing late payment of wages, a security source told The Daily Star.

Some of the workers have not been paid in 10 months, the source added.

The protest began at around 10 a.m., with the blocked road causing a snaking line of traffic.

Electricity workers block roads in Tyre

Dozens of Electricite du Liban workers who work on a per diem basis blocked the main entrance into the southern city of Tyre to protest the lack of long-term contracts and benefits, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The workers briefly halted their protest earlier, but then continued the demonstration, blocking a major roundabout in the city.

Vigil highlights reach of gender-based violence

The murder of Rebecca Dykes this month turned a spotlight on to male violence against women in Lebanon, with activists noting that the crime was not an isolated incident in the country where gender-based violence is widely underreported. “This could happen to any woman, it could be me, it could be you. I’m extremely upset about everything that has happened,” Sahar Chalak told The Daily on the evening during a vigil held at Beirut’s National Museum for four recent victims of femicide that included Dykes.

Teachers protest outside Education Ministry

A group of contract school teachers held a protest outside the Education Ministry, demanding that they be given long-term contracts and be formally employed by their places of work.

Local media reported that a delegation of the protesters met with Education Minister Marwan Hamadeh, while those remaining outside, in Beirut’s Unesco area, blocked a nearby road as part of the demonstration.

One protester told reporters at the scene that the call to be installed as permanent workers should not be seen as a request for charity from the teachers.

EDL contractors protest late wages

Dozens of Electricite du Liban contract workers on morning protested the ongoing late payment of their wages, briefly blocking Corniche al-Nahr road before being pushed back onto the sidewalk by security forces.

The demonstrators, who work for EDL subcontractor the Debbas Group, have been protesting their working conditions for several years.

Points of contention include the workers’ lack of long-term contracts and the regular delays in wage payment.

A spokesperson for the protesters told reporters that wages had not been paid in more than three months.

Drivers attempt to storm TV studio during Uber debate

A clash between Uber and taxi drivers broke out outside a Beirut TV station at night as the groups attempted to storm local channel Al-Jadeed’s studios during a live broadcast debate on Uber’s operations in Lebanon. The incident took place during the broadcast of Tony Khalife’s prime-time TV show “Eye to Eye.”

Protesters rally against attacks on press freedom

Over 100 protesters gathered outside the Justice Ministry to demonstrate against what they said was increasing repression of Lebanon’s media and charges leveled against television presenter Marcel Ghanem. The demonstration brought together civil society actors, journalists and politicians to push back against what was described as the Justice Ministry’s “growing suppression” of the media.

Protesters also warned that any authority that attempts to stifle freedom of expression would not refrain from committing more serious crimes in the future, local TV channel LBCI reported.

Protesters cut electricity in Akkar

قطع المعتصمون من أهالي بلدات منطقة الجومة في عكار، ​التيار الكهربائي​ عن كلّ البلدات الّتي تتغذّى من محطة التوزيع في بلدة ​بيت ملات​.

وأكّد نائب رئيس بلدية ​عكار العتيقة​ الدكتور رامي ملحم، أنّ "قطع التيار طال خطّ الجرد وخطّ الدريب وخطّ الجومة، وأنّ انقطاع التيار سوف يستمرّ حتّى تحقيق مطالب المعتصمين بتوزيع متساو بين البلدات كافّة كما كانت سابق، وأنّ المعتصمين سيبقون في المكان لمنع أي محاولة لتشغيل التيار إذا لم يشمل كلّ البلدات".

وعملت الأجهزة الأمنية المختصة على تأمين الأمن في محيط المحطة.

Civil service applicants protest delay in appointments

Successful applicants for the Civil Service Council held a demonstration onf morning in Riad al-Solh Square to protest the delay in their appointment.

EDL workers block headquarters entrance in ongoing protest

Electricite du Liban workers resumed their protest in front of the company’s headquarters to demand payment of outstanding salaries. The workers closed off EDL’s entrance and held a sit-in in the reception area. Contract workers were also protesting in Zahle’s Chtoura and Baalbeck, the state-run National News Agency reported. Scores of workers had protested on Monday, burning trash near EDL’s headquarters in Corniche al-Nahr. The workers are demanding payment of salaries and long-term contracts that would cement their status on the company’s staff.

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