Prices of Alfa and Touch recharge cards rose this month after employees of both companies went on strike. (Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
BEIRUT — Crowds of people gathered in front of branches of mobile operators Alfa and Touch in Tripoli and Akkar, North Lebanon, to buy prepaid cards, as rumors of price increase swell.
Here’s what we know:
• According to our correspondent in the North, Alfa and Touch outlets were stormed by customers looking to buy mobile recharge cards at their official price. Prices of these cards rose to LL80,000 on the black market after employees of both companies staged a strike earlier this month.
• At least one fight broke out in front of an Alfa branch, according to images sent by our correspondent.
• Alfa and Touch employees finally lifted their strike after more than a week Tuesday evening, announcing that their demands had been met.
• The strike began on December 13 and was initiated due to disagreements over health insurance provided by employment contracts.
• Meanwhile, the possibility of an upcoming increase in telecom rates is increasingly being mentioned in social media reports.