Ref: 44/2019
Date: 15 July 2019
Press Release
The International Commission (ICSPR) follows with deep concern the consequences of the Lebanese Ministry of Labor decision on the right of Palestinian workers in Lebanon.
The International Commission to Support Palestinians’ Rights follows with deep concern and condemnation the decision of the Lebanese Ministry of Labor against Palestinian workers right in Lebanon by pursuing them in their places of work and issuing arrest warrants against them and closing their institutions.
This decision comes at a time the Palestinian refugees witness deterioration of their situation in the Lebanese Republic, which increased following the recent US decisions to stop its financial contributions to UNRWA, where the poverty rate in the Palestinian refugee community in Lebanon reached 73% and unemployment 56%. This is without Syrian Palestinians who have been displaced to Lebanon, where 9.2% of them live in extreme poverty, 89.1% of whom are poor in general, and 71.5% of them are unemployed.
The decision of the Lebanese Minister of Labor deepens the problems faced by the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, especially in light of limited employment opportunities, lack of sanitation system, lack of potable water, overcrowding, high dropout rates, small housing, poor humanitarian and economic conditions and high levels of chronic diseases.
ICSPR believes that this decision is unjust and that its justifications are insufficient and unconvincing and will lead to disastrous economic and humanitarian conditions, especially since 80% of the Palestinian labor force works in their own business or as wage earners. Therefore, ICSPR:
Demands that the Lebanese government immediately reverse the decision of the Lebanese Ministry of Labor and work to reopen the shops and establishments that it closed following the decision of the Lebanese Ministry of Labor.
Urges the Lebanese government and presidency to issue practical positions that translate their declared political positions in support of Palestinian rights by removing all restrictions on Palestinian labor in Lebanon and ensuring their enjoyment of their rights guaranteed by international law.
Calls on the international community to guarantee the right of Palestinian refugees to work and all economic, health and social rights in accordance with international conventions.
Calls on the international community to pressure the Israeli occupation to comply with the relevant UN resolutions, particularly Resolution 194, which calls for the return of refugees and compensation for the years of pain and suffering.
Regards,
