Summary
Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman signaled Monday that he was willing to compromise on work permits for Palestinian refugees, as protesters geared up to shut down Palestinian camps in south Lebanon.
A total of 438 violations have been reported, Abousleiman told The Daily Star in a phone call, but only two cases involved Palestinians.
Abousleiman met with Lebanese-Palestinian Dialogue Committee Chairman Hasan Mneimneh and Palestinian Ambassador Ashraf Dabbour Monday afternoon in an attempt to cool the atmosphere.
In 2010, Parliament approved granting Palestinian refugees free work permits and end-of-service benefits through the National Social Security Fund, according to the International Labor Organization, which estimates that only 2 percent of Palestinian workers have acquired work permits.
However, Abousleiman suggested that the ministry could be even more "flexible" with the aim of further smoothing the way for Palestinians obtaining work permits.
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