Lebanese labour minister pushes back at outrage over Palestinian labour rights expansion

Lebanon’s Minister of Labour held a press conference early Friday to defend his decision to grant Palestinian refugees the right to work in certain professions, which had sparked criticism from some political parties.

The Labour Minister, Mustafa Bayrem, told reporters that the expansion was “legal,” and that “90 percent of those criticizing [the decision] have not read it.” He added that measures were still in place to protect “Lebanese workers in all sectors.”

The decision will allow Palestinian refugees residing in Lebanon to work in trade-regulated professions such as law, medicine, and engineering. It would only apply to Palestinian refugees who were born in Lebanon and were registered with the Minister of Interior.

The removal of labour restrictions was done by a ministerial decision, rather than a decree or law passed by Parliament. This means that the decision will expire at the end of the current Labour Minister’s tenure.

Still for Palestinians, many of whom have known no other country but than Lebanon, the decision was “historic,” as Mohamed al-Shouli, the media officer at the Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Witness), said.

“This is a brave and historical step. This is the beginning of a change in the way that Lebanese see the rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon after all these years,” al-Shouli told The New Arab. Other rights groups joined al-Shouli in applauding the decision as a step in the right decision for the near 200,000 Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.

For some Lebanese political parties, however, the move was seen as a step in the wrong direction.

Gebran Bassil, the leader of the Christian Free Patriotic Movement and former Foreign Minister of Lebanon, tweeted that the Labour Minister’s decision was unlawful and against the constitution. He added that “We will not allow Lebanese to have their jobs taken from them in these circumstances.”

قرار وزير العمل السماح للفلسطينيين ومكتومي القيد بممارسة عشرات المهن المحصورة باللبنانيين مخالف لقانون العمل وللدستور وهو توطين مقنّع ومرفوض.ندعو النقابات لكسره امام مجلس شورى الدولة، واللبنانيين لعدم الالتزام به.ما بتمرق هيك قصة! وما رح نسمح بتشليح اللبنانيين وظائفهم بهالظروف!GB

— Gebran Bassil (@Gebran_Bassil) December 9, 2021

The Kataeb party, a Christian political party and former civil war militia, said that the minister’s decision amounted to resettling Palestinians into Lebanon and “changing the character” of the country.

The party added that this decision “was an assault on the rights of the Lebanese, and solidification of their permanent presence in Lebanon.”

Al-Shouli said that he was disappointed by these politicians’ responses, especially because they know that the expansion of labour rights is only temporary.

“Whatever Palestinian workers earn, they spend in the country which is beneficial for Lebanon. Palestinians in the diaspora also send money back to Lebanon. Palestinians are productive for Lebanon, they are not a burden on the state,” al-Shouli said.

The decision came as Lebanon experiences an unprecedented wave of emigration, prompted by the drastic economic crisis embroiling the country. The national currency has lost over 90 percent of its value over the last two years, basic services are scarce, and over two-thirds of Lebanese live in poverty.

As a consequence, key sectors where skilled workers are needed, especially the medical sector, are struggling to find employees. Despite many being highly educated, Palestinians have been restricted from these fields for decades.

Opening new employment opportunities for Palestinians will provide much relief, as the population is among the hardest hit by Lebanon’s crisis due to the lack of state support.