Employees block bank entrances in Tripoli

BEIRUT — Hundreds of bank employees in Tripoli blocked the entrances of various branches to demand they receive a portion of their salaries in dollars as promised by Banque du Liban’s recent circular, the state-run National News Agency reported.

Here’s what we know:

    • The employees gathered outside their respective branches, demanding that they receive the dollar portion of their salaries entitled to them by a BDL Circular, and protesting the $100 limit set by the banks, the NNA’s correspondent in the area reported.

    • The employees also demanded that they be able to withdraw the dollars from ATMs to avoid “hours of waiting and assortments of indignities.”

    • The large gatherings of employees led to bank closures, while outside the branches were heard “screaming and altercations.”

    • On Dec. 16, BDL issued a circular instructing banks to pay employees in USD banknotes at the lira exchange rate given by governmental platform Sayrafa. Today, BDL extended these effects until Jan. 31, 2022.