Refugee children in one of the many camps in the Bekaa. (Credit: Mohammad Yassine/L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT — The Strong Lebanon Bloc, of the Lebanese Forces, issued a formal letter to caretaker Labor Minister Mustafa Bayram Wednesday urging Bayram to enforce "stricter adherence to Lebanese labor laws and regulations to combat the uncontrolled influx of Syrian laborers."
The Bloc, consisting of 10 LF MPs expressed "concern over the increasing Syrian workforce, " which they claim are "negatively impacting Lebanon's economy and threatening national identity." The letter specifically references the 2003 memorandum of understanding between the Lebanese General Security and the UN Refugee Agency, which outlines the handling of asylum seekers.
The MoU was established to "coordinate the processes related to the registration, status determination, and protection of asylum seekers within Lebanon."
The MPs also urged Bayram, in their statement, to "strictly enforce Lebanese labor laws," including Decree No. 17561 of September 18, 1964, and its amendments, particularly Articles 8 and 9, which regulate foreign labor. They also call for adherence to Circular No. 4/1 of April 10, 2021, and Decision No. 96/1, which restrict certain professions to Lebanese citizens.
They claim that their "appeal aims to curb the unrestricted employment of Syrians, ensure compliance with legal frameworks, and safeguard Lebanon’s economic and cultural future."
In May, General Security announced a series of restrictive measures aimed at "containing and regulating the issue of Syrians present in Lebanon," at a time when the country is facing an upsurge in xenophobic acts against them, and the resumption of "voluntary and safe returns" of Syrians to their country.
Several "voluntary return" convoys were organized between 2018 and 2022, with the aim of "assisting" Syrians, refugees in Lebanon since the start of the war in their country in 2011, to return home.
This process has often been criticized by international organizations such as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Amnesty International, who view it as disguised expulsions.