EDL workers to benefit from new salary scale

An agreement was reached between workers at Electricite Du Liban (EDL) and the organization's management. Workers suspended protests after the agreement.

EDL will deal with the contracted workers according to Labor Law 46 and will consider them as public sector employees. They will be given appropriate ranks and pay grade improvements. The basic salary to be considered regarding any increase is that of 2008, as for all other public sector servants.

Bechara Al Asmar, Chairman of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (GCLW), said that the agreement was reached following coordination between different parties including the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ministry of Energy and Water (MoEW), EDL, and the GCLW.

According to Asmar, nearly 1,800 employees will benefit from the agreement, and receive a considerable percentage increase on their current salaries.

A source close to the issue said that the increase accepted by different parties would be approximately 35 percent. Additional legal work is required to comply with both the needs of the workers and EDL’s legal framework.

Asmar said that the agreement includes workers that are part of NEUC's labor force. NEUC is in charge of the Southern area. The workers will receive their unpaid salaries for the last three months. He said that any potential agreement between EDL and MoEW on one hand, and private service providers or subcontractors on the other, should consider the permanent employment status of the current non-contract workers.

Reported by Samer Rasbey