Lebanon is a Mediterranean land that shares borders with various countries. It also has a mixed culture and an open society with a welcoming aspect. Despite the sad happenings at Beirut’s Port, there is still more hope in making new legislation fixing the issues of labor and creating more  opportunities there. If you are new to Lebanon, take a look at the employment laws for Lebanese and foreigners as well.

Labor Law in Lebanon:

Lebanon survived a destructive civil war from 1975 to 1990. After a dynamic reconstruction phase including some political reforms, Lebanon is now facing a heavy public debt and unemployment rate, which is the highest in the Arab world. It is encouraging foreign and local private investments, including productive industries and agriculture to fix the trade deficit. Since employment is stagnant in the public sector, Lebanon has become a market of services, where the following fields are exceedingly active:

Banking and insurances sectors: the banking sector is still very developed in Lebanon. It has various financing plans for purchasing a car/ a building, studying abroad, traveling, having medical assistance etc..

Outsourcing: call centers and outsourcing projects are increasing in Lebanon, as the workforce is cheap compared to other countries. The quality of education and the mastery of foreign languages helped the young population to attract international investors. Since 2000, 73 French companies have been active in Lebanon.

-Tourism: hotels and tourism is active in Lebanon especially for medical tourism. Lebanon is known for topping various medical care with affordable prices.

Lebanese Working Hours:

The question that comes across every applicant’s mind: How many hours I am supposed to work in Lebanon? The answer depends on the field you have applied for. In the public sector, banks and administrations are open in two sessions. The morning session is from 9 am to 12 am and the Afternoon session is from 2pm to 5pm from Monday to Saturday. Employees in the public sector are assigned to work 40 hours a week, except for teachers, who work 22 hours a week. Concerning the private sector, each company/ organization has its working schedule and should not overpass 48 hours a week. Some factories and stores are open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Some open on Sundays. Workers in free projects are paid per performance and not by the hours spent at work. Many entrepreneurs are following this professional arrangement and pay workers after completing a specific stage at work, no matter the hours or the days spent at work. To understand the professional sphere in Lebanon, it is essential to sign up to Fratres. Fratres is a worldwide job portal with professional guidelines specific to the country of your choice. You may also read; Best CV Writing Tips for Lebanon

Employment in Lebanon:

The Labor law in Lebanon is quite flexible and even if the employment contract is framed by law, the stipulated conditions denote a certain flexibility reinforced by collective or individual negotiation. Since the private sector has various activities and recruits applicants through flexible contracts, let’s take a look at employment contracts in Lebanon.

-Employment contracts: working conditions, termination, and payment:

In Lebanon, employment contracts vary depending on the field of activities. They are open to change at any time. As a job seeker you can arrange a work contract with one or more than in a single recruiter, especially if you can reconcile between two professions. But, it is totally illegal in Lebanon to operate in the public and the private sector at the same time. only employees/ workers in the private sector are entitled to work in many fields under more than one contract. An average work contract in Lebanon includes the following details:

-the job title: the contract identifies the job title and the person who is going to occupy the vacant position:

-the date: a work contract includes the period of commitment. it identifies the starting and the ending date. It also identifies whether the work is temporary, renewable, or permanent.

-employment rules and policies: the work contract determines the do and don’t of the candidate. It clarifies certain rights and duties, and determines the consequences/  penalties in case of violating certain rules.Top 10 Most Popular Careers for Lebanese People

- Wage: They include a minimum monthly salary of 300,000 Lebanese Lira for 48 hours of weekly work with a salary increase proportional to the cost of living index and 15 days of annual leave. The problem in Lebanon is that wages have not been adjusted for inflation. The statutory minimum wage is US $ 200 per month and might vary from one city to another.

-Taxation: Income tax is deducted by the employer with adjustment at the end of the fiscal year. Taxable income corresponds to the gross salary to which are added the benefits in kind and to which certain deductions apply (social contributions and additional deductions varying according to the family situation: spouse at home (1,500,000 Lebanese pounds), dependent children (300,000 pounds for each dependent child, limited to the number of 5) as well as a general basic allowance (3,000,000 Lebanese pounds), deductible from gross income.

-Social Protection: Lebanon has some of the best hospitals and doctors in the region, with every specialty being treated. Before the war, Lebanon was considered the best health center in the entire Middle East. But, the entire sector now has to face competition from neighboring countries which have considerably improved their health systems. The Lebanese health system has mainly developed in the private sector with a few public establishments. The Ministry of Health, with the help of the World Bank, set up a program to rehabilitate public hospitals, which were in a catastrophic state after the war. Lebanese employees including foreigners working in Lebanon, regardless of the nature of their work, are entitled to social security provisions. They are exempt from social security contributions if they work in Lebanon under an employment contract. Take a look at; Lebanon: Labour and Employment Comparative Guide

Terminating an employee/ worker in Lebanon:

Termination depends on many conditions. in all cases, terminated employees/ workers, cannot demand any benefit or reimbursement, in case of not being harmed in the work environment. Termination laws in Lebanon are specific to each contract arrangement. the majority of recruiters terminate employees/ workers for:

-crossing professional rules

-causing problems or harming the work process

-not abiding by the contract and respecting the policies.

These were the recent labor law regulations in Lebanon. The majority of them are flexible, as they belong to private employment. Annual leaves depend on the field. Some employees are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leaves. Others have one month paid annual leave scattered all along the year without counting other leaves.