July 16, 2012 10:58 AM

BEIRUT: Electricite Du Liban Director-General Kamal Hayek warned Monday the continued strike by contract workers is paving the way for a “gradual collapse” of the state-run company, sounding the alarm of a possible total blackout in the country.

“We could be seeing a gradual collapse of the company: something no one can handle … if the strike continues as is,” Hayek told reporters at a news conference in the headquarters of the Energy Ministry.

Hayek added that the company was unable to carry out maintenance work on power plants, buy new equipment, collect bills, and ultimately would be unable to pay salaries of EDL staff for the month of August.

The company has warned that its operations were being disrupted due to failure to collect electricity bills which was placing a burden on the already troubled firm.

Hayek added that the failure of the company to pay Value Added Tax on fuel would lead to a total blackout in the country.

He also said that he would be holding a meeting with Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel as well as Energy Minister Gebran Bassil to discuss ways to prevent contract workers from disrupting everyday work at the company.

“If the strike was peaceful, we would have supported it but it includes the use of violence, breaking gates and preventing employees from doing their job … that is crossing the red line,” he added.

Five contract workers at the headquarters EDL in Beirut erected a tent at the firm and began a hunger strike earlier Monday as others prevented customers from paying electricity bills.

The workers are protesting the government’s delay in resolving their employment status.

EDL says disruptions leading to gradual collapse of company
July 16, 2012 10:58 AM (Last updated: July 16, 2012 11:19 PM)
The Daily Star
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BEIRUT: Electricite Du Liban Director-General Kamal Hayek warned Monday the continued strike by contract workers is paving the way for a “gradual collapse” of the state-run company, sounding the alarm of a possible total blackout in the country.

“We could be seeing a gradual collapse of the company: something no one can handle … if the strike continues as is,” Hayek told reporters at a news conference in the headquarters of the Energy Ministry.

Hayek added that the company was unable to carry out maintenance work on power plants, buy new equipment, collect bills, and ultimately would be unable to pay salaries of EDL staff for the month of August.

The company has warned that its operations were being disrupted due to failure to collect electricity bills which was placing a burden on the already troubled firm.

Hayek added that the failure of the company to pay Value Added Tax on fuel would lead to a total blackout in the country.

He also said that he would be holding a meeting with Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel as well as Energy Minister Gebran Bassil to discuss ways to prevent contract workers from disrupting everyday work at the company.

“If the strike was peaceful, we would have supported it but it includes the use of violence, breaking gates and preventing employees from doing their job … that is crossing the red line,” he added.

Five contract workers at the headquarters EDL in Beirut erected a tent at the firm and began a hunger strike earlier Monday as others prevented customers from paying electricity bills.

The workers are protesting the government’s delay in resolving their employment status.

Meanwhile in Baalbek, contract workers blocked the international road in Baalbek, northeast of Lebanon, in solidarity with their colleagues in Beirut.

The road, which is located near the Baalbek branch of EDL, was blocked for 40 minutes causing traffic.

A statement released by MP Michel Aoun’s office said EDL would sue those contract workers who harm the facilities as well as hold each of them responsible for their behavior,

The statement added that the lawsuit would be filed by Bassil of Aoun’s bloc and Hayek.

Beirut-based contract workers have been protesting and on strike for the past two months calling on the government to employ them as full-time staff and to pay their salaries. Their protests have included shutting the gates of EDL headquarters in Beirut and disrupting normal work at the state-run company.

Parliament has endorsed a bill to employ the contract workers full-time at EDL but the draft legislation is awaiting the approval of Parliament’s Secretariat.

Christian parties argue that were EDL to employ contract workers full-time without a proper regulatory mechanism, this would cause sectarian imbalance in the public sector.

EDL announced over the weekend that it would pay the salaries of contract bill collectors but warned it would take legal steps against those withholding money from collected electricity bills.

Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2012/Jul-16/180764-edl-contract-workers-briefly-close-road-in-east-lebanon.ashx#ixzz20ujtEc3f
(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)