BEIRUT, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian refugees demonstrated for the seventh consecutive day in south Lebanon's Sidon to protest against measures adopted by the Labor Ministry, the National News Agency reported on Monday.
Palestinians also shut down all entrances leading to Ain El Helwe camp while burning tires and vowing to take escalatory measures if the Labor Minister does not exempt Palestinians from work permits.
The ministry issued a statement saying that the proper implementation of the labor law is in favor of the Palestinians in Lebanon because it allows them to access their rights contrary to working in the black market.
Early in June, Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman gave employers and workers a one-month grace period, which expired on July 10, to apply for a work permit.
Since then, the Labor Ministry has closed down dozens of shops and fined many more if they were found to employ foreign workers without work permits.
Such situation has sparked anger among the Palestinians who labeled the decision as "unfair," while prompting them to wage demonstrations all over Lebanon to protest against the ministry's measures.
Palestinians have on many occasions called upon the government to give them equal treatment to the Lebanese, since they have been living in Lebanon for their entire lives.
