The president of the Union of Bakery Syndicates in Lebanon, Nasser Srour. (Credit: NNA)
The president of the Beirut and Mount Lebanon Arab Bread Ovens and Bakeries Union, Nasser Srour, said Monday that the sector “has relied for more than 30 years on Syrian labor, mainly to ensure production continuity, especially amid difficult economic and security conditions.”
In a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency (NNA), Srour called on authorities to show more “flexibility” toward these workers, stressing the essential role the sector plays in the country’s food security.
He said he is working with the Labor Ministry and General Security to find “balanced solutions” that both ensure compliance with existing laws and guarantee the continuity of work. “Regularizing the status of bakery workers is an urgent matter that cannot be postponed, or the sector — and bread production, a vital staple — will face serious consequences,” he said.
Syrian labor has long been widespread in Lebanon, but the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Syrians during their country’s war has complicated the situation, as many have lived in Lebanon for years under refugee status. With the change of regime in Syria in December 2024 and renewed calls for the return of displaced people, the issue of regularizing the status of those still working in Lebanon has become increasingly urgent.
