BEIRUT – Lebanon has lifted the ban it imposed on Ethiopian workers on 1 July 2004 and in February 2006 it agreed with the Ethiopian government to allow 38,000 Ethiopian workers to come to work in Lebanon.
According to the agreement, 8,000 Ethiopian men and 30,000 women will be coming to Beirut. About eight agencies have been set up and each of them has deposited 37,000 dollars in Beirut and 25,000 dollars in Ethiopia to effect the accord.
Residents of Beirut staged a demonstration in front of the Ethiopian consular offices on Thursday 13 April to protest over the delayed arrival of Ethiopian workers who were supposed to be in the country in accordance with the above mentioned agreement between the Lebanese and Ethiopian governments.
According to Addis Ababa reports four employment agencies have been established in Ethiopia to legally link employees to employers.
Although 1,250 workers were supposed to be in Beirut in February and March in line with the agreement, the Ethiopian Ministry of Workers and Social Affairs has delayed the process in order to avoid similar problems that occurred in the past and led to the ban.
Sources confirm that the agencies in Beirut complained over the delay after they had collected money from employers and deposited the money hoping that the workers will arrive on time. Residents also staged a demonstration in front of the Ethiopian consular offices in Beirut and were dispersed by security forces.
According to the agreement reached between the two countries, the Ethiopian male workers would be employed in construction, guarding and driving; replacing workers from other countries.
