President Joseph Aoun continued his meetings at Baabda Palace, following up on communications files, the pharmaceutical sector, and economic conditions, in addition to cooperation with the United Nations, stressing the necessity of continuing on the path of reform while preserving workers’ rights and the continuity of institutions.
In this context, President Aoun presented with Communications Minister Charles Hajj the latest developments related to the communications sector, especially the conditions of employees at Ogero and the Ministry of Communications, and the plan to complete the implementation of Law No. 431 and the establishment of Liban Telecom.
Minister Al-Hajj confirmed that the Ministry of Communications is continuing to implement the sector reform plan in accordance with the law, in parallel with preserving the acquired rights of all workers at Ogero and the Ministry of Communications, including day laborers, and working to find legal solutions that secure their job stability and preserve the continuity of the public facility.
President Aoun praised Minister Al-Hajj’s intention to continue the dialogue with employee representatives, stressing the need to reconcile protecting employees’ rights and completing the reform process, ensuring the continuity of the communications sector and enhancing its role in serving citizens and the national economy, stressing that the state is keen on the rights of all workers, and that any reform process will be based on respecting the law, preserving acquired rights, and ensuring the continuity and development of public institutions.
President Aoun also received a delegation from the Syndicate of Pharmaceutical Factories in Lebanon, headed by Dr. Carol Abi Karam, who presented the importance of the national pharmaceutical industry and its role in securing medicine, providing job opportunities, and supporting the economy and exports, warning that imposing new fees may increase the burden on factories and weaken their competitive ability, and called for providing incentives and developing a national strategy for the sector.
The President of the Republic stressed that the health of citizens and residents is a priority, noting the quality of Lebanese medicines and their compliance with international standards, promising to follow up on the union’s demands, especially with regard to fees on serums and nutritional supplements, in a way that maintains the factories’ production capabilities.
In a related context, President Aoun received a delegation from the “Ogero” employees union, where he discussed with them the reasons for the strike and the conditions of workers, especially day laborers, stressing that their rights are reserved after the establishment of “Liban Telecom,” and that he is following up the file personally with the Minister of Communications, calling on the union to approach the file positively.
President Aoun and MP Michel Daher discussed the general situation in light of current developments, in addition to the economic situation in the country.
He also received the Acting Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator in Lebanon, Jean Arnault, the Deputy Special Coordinator of the United Nations, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Imran Riza, and the Special Assistant to the Special Coordinator, Lina Al-Qudwa, where the discussion discussed the assistance provided by the United Nations and the difficulties it faces.
