Lebanon Grants Palestinians Some Rights to Work
The BBC reports that Palestinian refugees have been granted the right to work in Lebanon, though severe restrictions will still apply:
Lebanon's parliament has, after long delay, passed a law which allows Palestinian refugees to work legally.
There are an estimated 400,000 Palestinians living in Lebanon and, given its delicate sectarian balance, their status is a sensitive issue.
Many are still living in camps where conditions are dire.
But the law is unlikely to transform their lives, as they will not be able to work in the public sector or for certain professions, nor buy property.
To meet objections from a number of Christian factions, the legislation was heavily diluted from the version proposed earlier in the summer by the Druze leader, Walid Jumblatt.
The proposal to accord Palestinians the right to buy property aroused fierce opposition from those nervous that it might lead eventually to the permanent settlement of Palestinians in Lebanon.
Under the new law, Palestinians will have the right to claim free work permits for employment in the private sector.
They will also be able to claim cover for work-related accidents and retirement indemnities from their own social security fund, to which they will pay contributions while working.
This marks a step forward from a situation where the Palestinians were barred from all but the most menial of jobs.
But the advances remain well short of the rights enjoyed by Palestinian refugees in Syria, Jordan and elsewhere in the region.
Palestinians in Lebanon will still be unable to work in the public sector or in professions such as medicine, law or engineering, where membership of Lebanese syndicates is compulsory.
They will also continue to be denied access to Lebanese state medical or educational facilities.
Click here to read more.
