Need to regulate Syrian labor: Economy Minister

BEIRUT: The Lebanese Minister of Economy Alain Hakim Wednesday called for greater regulation of Syrian labor in the country, warning that the mass influx will lead to higher rates of unemployment among Lebanese.

“There is a need to develop legal frameworks for Syrian labor in Lebanon as soon as possible, because informal employment will lead to increased unemployment in Lebanon,” Hakim said.

According to the economy minister, the issue will be addressed during Cabinet's session scheduled Thursday.

Hakim said the influx would lead to an estimated 324,000 unemployed Lebanese by the end of 2014.

The government has already adopted measures to restrict the influx of refugees into Lebanon, which already hosts over one million refugees.

Last month, officials announced that refugee status would be revoked for individuals who return to Syria, along with those who have traveled from what Lebanese officials have termed 'safe zones' within Syria.

Increased security measures along the Lebanese-Syrian border have also limited the entry of refugees fleeing from the crisis.

A report by Amnesty International published Tuesday highlighted the very strict entry criteria employed along the border, saying that conditions for entry were impossible to meet.

The report also shed light on a leaked security report that called on all airlines to ban the travel of Palestinian refugees fleeing from Syria to Lebanon.