Syria calls Lebanon to compensate harmed workers
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 7/22/2005

Syria announced Thursday that she will demand the Lebanese government compensations for damage that inflected in Syrian workers in Lebanon recently.

During a press conference, Syria's Minister of labor and Social Affairs, Diyala Haj Aref, told reporters that the Lebanese government has acknowledged, within a joint statement by both Syria and Lebanese prime ministries, of the existence of harmed Syrian workers in Lebanon, so it will study the mechanism of compensating them, indicating that Syria will demand the Lebanese government protect Syrian workers' rights.

"37 Syrian workers were killed in Lebanon, 12 of their bodies are there and we could recognized the way they were killed but the rest of them are missing, besides 150 workers were exposed to physical aggressions which caused them handicappings," the minister clarified, noting that 130 workers were also exposed to physical aggressions and 130 others were unjustly dismissed of their works.

She pointed out that the compensations will be identified through joint Syrian-Lebanese committees and in accordance with the laws and systems.

"Syria, since the first moment, has demanded her workers' rights," Haj Aref asserted, explaining that the Syrian demand will include financial and penal compensations by asking the Lebanese government of figuring out those who are responsible for recent aggressions against Syrian laborers in their country.

In response to a question, the minister noted that demanding a compensation for harmed Syrian workers in Lebanon has no political dimension, saying "when any Syrian worker is hurt, the ministry of labor and social affairs is responsible of demanding his rights whether he is in or out side Syria."

She pointed out at the main important role of Syrian workers in rebuilding Lebanon, noting "South Lebanon which had been destroyed by the Israeli occupation was reconstructed through a main and significant participation of Syrian workers."

The minister explained that the number of Syrian workers in Lebanon was more than 300,000 but now it has decreased to few hundreds because Syrian labor was deeply hurt for what they or their colleagues had been exposed to. "They feel pain and injustice due to all bad behaviors they have undergone," Haj Aref said.

She said that both internal ministries have some information about those responsible for aggressions against Syrian workers in Lebanon, "we will take all required procedure regarding that matter," Haj Aref added.

"No aggression case against any Lebanese is recorded inside Syria. Lebanese feel themselves that they are in their own country when they are in Syria," the minister stressed, underlining that Syria will sue who ever tries to aggress against any Lebanese citizen inside her lands.

"Syrians love their bothers in Lebanon and believe that there are deep-relative ties that connect the two people in both countries," the minister said.

She concluded that ministry of labor and social affairs in Syria is organizing the labor market in Syria and studying the best formulas to protect Syrian workers' rights abroad.

Previous Stories:
  Syria will ask for compensating Syrian workers hurt in Lebanon   (7/21/2005)
  Syrian- Lebanese problems should be contained quickly, AL chief   (7/20/2005)
  Lebanese figures: Syria protects Lebanon   (7/19/2005)

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