Beirut Meeting Fails to Resolve Dispute

The UGTEP (Oujro Workers' Union) has confirmed that it will escalate its protest with a full strike scheduled for Thursday, warning of an open-ended strike starting next Tuesday. This is in protest against the failure to meet their demands for amending Law 431 and recognizing their financial rights owed to them. Despite the commitment made by the Minister of Communications, Joseph Hajj, during a Beiteddine meeting under the auspices of President Joseph Aoun, to safeguard workers' rights and ensure the continuation of their entitlements during the transition of employees from Oujro to Lebanon Telecom Company, disagreements remain. The core of the dispute is over the implementation of these commitments in a way that fully guarantees rights and covers all categories, especially daily-wage workers and those on temporary contracts. The union is demanding amendments to the legislation and the approval of retroactive rights dating back to 2024, along with clear mechanisms to secure workers' entitlements. They also seek clarification on the fate of compensations and the Compensation Fund, in addition to organizing the transfer of responsibilities to ensure the continuity of service and network maintenance during the transition. Overall, the dispute primarily concerns how to guarantee workers' rights and ensure their livelihood benefits and entitlements during the implementation of future changes. There are clear calls to establish a transparent legal framework that guarantees the continuity of workers' rights and fosters job stability.