Land transport unions will strike from Wednesday until Friday this week

BEIRUT – Land transport unions head Bassam Tleis confirmed at a press conference on Monday that his members will go on a general strike from Wednesday until Friday, and that sit-ins will be organized from 5 a.m. until 3 p.m. in regions across the country.

Here’s what we know:

    • “The country is for all Lebanese. Hunger affects everyone, and the road transport sector concerns all Lebanese. If it takes to the streets, it will paralyze the whole country. We hope that the Council of Ministers will make a decision," Tleis said, addressing Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

    • The strike aims to pressure the government to “respect the agreement of October 26, 2021,” concerning the reallocation of a $295 million loan from the World Bank to benefit the public transport sector, Tleis said.

    • The land transport sector held a one-day strike on Jan. 13 to pressure the government.

    • Lebanon is witnessing its worst economic crisis, whereby the World Bank estimates that the country's GDP per capita fell by 40 percent between 2018 and 2020, a collapse usually observed “during conflicts or wars.”