Weekly News Report: June 18-24, 2022

Weekly News Report: June 18-24, 2022

June 27, 2022

التقارير الإخبارية الأسبوعية 2022

–Photo Credit: Daraj, Daraj.com

Articles and views shared in the Weekly News Report do not necessarily represent ARM’s views. Information in these articles has not been fact-checked by ARM and may contain some errors. ARM is simply compiling all news relevant to migrant communities to inform our advocacy efforts and to facilitate the work of organizations that cater to migrant communities.

Syrian Children Assaulted Heavily by Lebanese Employer [here] [here] و [here]

A video circulated online of a Lebanese employer torturing a group of young Syrian and Lebanese men and children in the town of Aakoura. The employer filed a false claim to the police accusing the workers of theft in order to get away with not paying the workers, who reported that avoiding payment is a recurrent behavior by the employer with other workers. Investigations are ongoing and no verdict is yet reached.

Meanwhile, The Minister of Labor Mostafa Bayram said in a meeting with the Syndicate of Agriculture that there will be “no complacency nor compromises” regarding the attack on workers in Akoura.

It seems that the Minister was too quick to praise security forces for doing their job by arresting the assaulter, disregarding current investigations suspecting that army intelligence were among the torturers. Instead, the Minister notes that only the individuals involved are held accountable for this “behavior.”

Minister of Labor Extends Grace Periods for Work Permits [here] [here] و [here]

On June 21st, A memo from the Minister of Labor, Moustafa Bayram requested an extension on grace periods and a fee waiver for foreigners  with work permits or residencies that expired as of June 13th 2022. The memo was addressed to The Foreign Labor Control Department, the Syrian Workers Welfare Department, and other relevant departments.

This was followed by reports of Syrians being arrested on checkpoints in Beirut and Saida on the account of  their expired residencies or work permits. It is yet to be seen whether the arrests are arbitrary or linked in any way to the expiry date on the memo. 

Bakery Workers’ Syndicate Demands Discrimination Against Undocumented Workers [here] و [here]

The Bakery Workers’ Syndicate addressed in a memo to the Minister of Labor Moustafa Bayram the struggles and conditions of bakeries and bakery workers.

The memo addressed exploitative behaviors by employers regarding work hours, health benefits and paid leaves. It also demanded exclusionary practices from employers, for example, targeting undocumented and foreign workers in bakeries, as well as career trainings and workshops for Lebanese workers. It is unclear whether targeting includes firing undocumented and foreign workers or just fixing their paperwork.

North Labor Union Confederation President Demands Protection from “Illegal” and Foreign Drivers [here] و [here]

In a meeting with Lebanese bus drivers, Shadi El Sayed, President of the Labor Union Confederation in the northern district of Lebanon, presented “problematic incidents” caused by the violations of undocumented and foreign drivers.

The article did not include any details of the so-called violations, instead, it included El Sayed’s plea to Imad Othman, Director of the Internal Security Forces (ISF) which demands “protection of people’s income and sustenance.” He also addressed the Confederation to endorse his demands.

UN and the Lebanese Parliament Signed a $3.2B Partnership [here] و [here]

An appeal was announced on June 20th by the UN and the Lebanese Parliament pledging $3.2 billion for “more than three million people as vulnerabilities rise, and to support public infrastructure, services, and the local economy” as part of the Lebanon Crisis Response Plan for 2022.

The plan promises “an integrated approach” between Syrians and Palestinian refugee communities and Lebanese host communities, however, the partnership agreement, signed between the UN and the Lebanese Parliament, has no mention of Syrians or Palestinians.

The UN, represented by Najat Rochdi, mentioned the rise of poverty among Lebanese citizens, migrants and refugees during the plan’s launch, which took place in Beirut and was attended by Lebanese PM Najib Mikati and Minister for Social Affairs, Hector Hajjar.

This “collaboration” came about a month after the 6th Brussels conference, during which, Hector Hajjar stated that the government doesn’t want more aid, instead, they want to get rid of the burden of hosting refugees. He also claimed that the government doesn’t receive any money from aid, which is proven false as this plan includes public infrastructure.

Here is the signed partnership agreement in Arabic.

Maronite Patriarch Calls for Deportation of Syrians and Palestines from Lebanon [here] [here] و [here]

The Head of the Maronite Church Patriarch Bechara Al-Rahi is calling  to “lighten the shoulders on Lebanon by permenantly solving the existence of Palestinian refugees and displaced Syrians on the land of Lebanon.”

Al Rahi completely refuses integration as a solution to the “reality of refugees in Lebanon,” citing that integration represents “international forces that aim to damage Lebanon’s sovereignty and stability.” He pointed out the responsibility of the Lebanese state to “negotiate” with the Palestinian government and international organizations, like the UN and the Arab League, on the “global redistribution of refugees.”

Aside from the blatant racism, Al Rahi contradicted himself numerous times: He mentioned that the Zionist entity in Palestine denies the entry of Palestinian refugees, yet he thinks it’s time for Palestinians to “return to their homeland and protect their civilization.” 

Furthermore, Al Rahi believes that Palestinians have the right to live a “dignified life, not to live in camps,” while firmly believing that their existence will harm Lebanon’s identity, which is something that “should be combated.”

The Story of an Ethiopian-Lebanese Woman with Racism in Lebanon [here]

a Lebanese Ethiopian woman who moved to Lebanon in the 1980’s recites stories of racism that she and her daughters have faced in Lebanon.

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