For the Sake of Lebanon, Gebran Bassil Should Win this Fight Against the Contract Workers

So many bad things will happen if the government backs down from this necessary battle.

The gates of hell

The sight of angry EDL workers driven to desperate measures by the prospect of unemployment can make the most hardened of hearts bleed. But one has to look beyond the road blockades, the gate storming, the threats of total blackout and the attempted self immolation. This fight is for the good of Lebanon and for a hopefully more healthy and less wasteful electrical sector.

The workers, although well educated and qualified, are not all needed for the efficient running of the company. It was very telling when one of the workers complained that his job was promised to him by a political leader. According to the ministry of energy, 2500 people are employed to do 1700 people’s work. Effectively 800 people are living at the expense of Lebanese taxpayers without contributing anything back. Lebanon can no longer afford this.

I have an intense dislike for Minister Gebran Bassil and I cannot believe I’m writing this post. But he is fighting the good fight. More than a third of Lebanon’s debt is the result of the inefficient and wasteful monster that is EDL. Lebanon’s debt is starting to become a serious problem and some are even arguing that Lebanon has crossed the tipping point. Something drastic has to be done and the job cuts at EDL are only the beginning if we want to avoid a Greek-style downward spiral.

The government is standing behind Minister Bassil, but the opposition should leave politics aside and let him do his thing. Because if he fails because of threats and aggressive protests, the repercussions will be far reaching. Redundant employees in other sectors will conclude that blocking roads and threatening to burn down the country brings results, and it will be effectively impossible for any government to carry out the reforms needed.

If’s very difficult to take the side of an obnoxious politician against that of hundreds of families who will lose their bread winners. But such is the state of Lebanon right now that one has to make such decisions.