BEIRUT — The Union of Used Cars Importers in Lebanon announced on Monday a sit-in scheduled on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., in front of the vehicle registration and technical control center of Dekwaneh (Metn) in protest of the “continuous closure of inspection centers in various areas.” Mechanical inspection centers across Lebanon have been closed for weeks.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement, the union said, “this protest comes in response to the inaction of officials and their lack of response in reopening automobile technical control centers.” The union also said that the closure “causes losses of revenue to the state estimated by tens of billions of liras per week and has negative consequences on the automobile sector whose activities are almost at a standstill.”
• "None of the excuses offered by officials are convincing," said the used cars importers, adding that the union "will escalate its movements” if politicians do not reopen the centers.
• Automobile technical control centers experience regular closures as a result of repeated strikes by its employees due to their deteriorating living conditions, as Lebanon suffers from an unprecedented economic crisis.