Country Rating: 4

  • Systematic violation of rights

  • Workers in countries with the rating of 4 have reported systematic violations. The government and/or companies are engaged in serious efforts to crush the collective voice of workers, putting fundamental rights under continuous threat.

Anti-union discrimination at Spinneys: It was reported that retail chain Spinneys, employer of 1,500 workers, dismissed three workers (Samir Tawk, Miled Barakat and Elie Abi Hanna) for being trade union members in breach of Article 329 of the Lebanese Criminal Code. The workers had asked management to comply with the increase of the minimum wage passed in February 2012. Spinneys responded by threatening workers with dismissals and dismissed Samir Tawk from the retailer's Achrafieh branch. CEO Michael Wright is now facing charges before the Criminal Court.

Hanna Gharib replaced during strike: Mar Elias Batina Private School in Beirut replaced Hanna Gharib, head of the Union Coordination Committee, who was leading the teacher's strike in March 2013. On 1 April 2013, school management decided Hanna Gharib could continue to teach at the school. Teachers had gone on a strike demanding pay increases in the public sector. The Lebanese Forces Department of Workers and Employees condemned the school's initial decision and stated this was an attack against the entire labour movement.

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