Private firms invite EDL part-timers to sign contracts

Contract workers refuse private sector jobs in the hope of being hired by EDL full time

Private firms hired by Electricité du Liban (EDL) to undertake bill collection, maintenance, and power distribution services, offered EDL contract workers and part-time bill collectors employment and called on them to sign contracts with them in accordance with the labor law.

Fadi Abou Jaoude, general manager of Butec Utility Service (BUS), one of the service providers, said: “Salaries will start at $700, and after a three-month probation period employees will be registered with the National Social Security Fund.”

Abou Jaoude said the service providers have made workers a good offer: “Starting July 1, the companies will launch their operations, contract and part-time workers should apply before that date or we will have to get other workers.”

Contract workers and part-timers refuse to be employed by the private companies under the current terms. The companies have signed four-year contracts with the EDL and part time workers fear they might lose their jobs after the contract term runs out. The companies reassured workers that they will not be laid off: “The proposed contracts are not limited by time frame, meaning they are permanent.”

Jad El Rumh, a workers' representative, said the companies should improve some of the terms of the contracts offered. He cited article 60 of the Labor Law which states that if EDL was acquired by new shareholders, the company’s employees will keep their jobs without having to go through a three-month probation period. Rumh said the contract being offered deprives workers from any salary increases instituted by the government. He also said that article five of the contract states that workers will no longer be connected with EDL.

“Our problem is not with the private companies, we claim our right to become permanently employed at EDL after 20 years of service,” said Mohamad Fayad, director of the committee tasked with following up on the contract workers’ demands.

Fayad said workers are hopeful that next week Parliament will approve a draft law allowing their employment status at EDL to become fixed rather than part time. The draft law authorizes EDL to offer full time jobs to nearly 1,200 eligible contract part time workers through exams to determine qualification. All applicants must be below the age of 54, they must already be employed at EDL, and they cannot have another job. According to Fayad, around 1,700 workers will be taking the test.

Reported by Abeer Darwiche