Alfa and Touch staffs sign collective labor agreement

Job security guaranteed under new operator

The Syndicate of Mobile Operators Employees has signed a collective labor agreement with the managements of Alfa and Touch in collaboration with and under the supervision of the Ministry of Telecommunications. The contract aims to protect the rights of employees at the two mobile network operators Touch and Alfa.

Danielle Saliba, President of the Syndicate of Mobile Operators Employees, said the collective agreement will guarantee the employment of the current staff within any new company. Any new operator will be able to hire more staff if needed but will not be allowed to discharge any current staffer. A tender is scheduled in June for new mobile operators that could replace Touch and Alfa. The collective agreement also specified many other conditions such as working hours, annual vacations, insurance, and additional compensations.

“Employees of both operators have signed the contract together as they share the same work conditions,” said Saliba.

“This sector is an asset to the government, but it is managed by the private sector, thus a collective agreement is essential in order to guarantee the rights of employees whenever a new operator is assigned," she said.