Beirut: Beirut Port Authority on Thursday marked Labor Day in the presence of Public Works and Transport Minister, Fayez Rasamny, Chairman and Director General Marwan Al-Naffi, and General Confederation of Lebanese Workers head Bechara Al-Asmar, alongside staff, unions, maritime agents, CMA BT representatives, and security agencies.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Rasamny opened by calling for a minute of silence for victims of Israeli attacks and the Beirut port explosion, stating the port "has once again proven to be Lebanon's lifeline," ensuring vital supplies under the most difficult conditions and maintaining operations through holidays and weekends. Moreover, Rasamny said the goal was to reach 24/7 operations in line with global ports, praising the exceptional commitment of employees. Acknowledging difficult conditions, he stressed parallel efforts to address structural flaws exposed by the explosion and advance reform.
Rasamny further revealed a detailed review of security and administrative gaps, attributing many shortcomings to negligence and mismanagement, while affirming that accountability rests with the judiciary. He highlighted the new scanners as a key step to enhance security and revenues, within a broader reform framework. The Minister also addressed wider state challenges, particularly wages, noting it is unrealistic to expect peak performance amid insufficient income, with solutions tied to sustainable funding. He pointed to disparities between public and private sectors, stressing that a reduced public workforce carries significant responsibilities under complex conditions.
In turn, Al-Naffi praised workers as the core strength of the port, describing it as a strategic economic gateway sustained over 139 years through collective effort. He paid tribute to victims of the August 4 explosion and emphasized that daily performance is the true celebration of Labor Day. Al-Asmar commended workers across sectors despite economic hardship since 2019, highlighting cooperation that helped restore the port's global standing. He called for reducing political tensions, restoring labor rights, and replicating the Beirut Port model across other sectors.