National TV Channel Temporarily Shuts Down Over Government’s Inability To Pay Worker’s Salaries

Lebanon’s sole national TV Channel, Tele Liban, has been temporary shut down due to the government’s inability to pay employee’s salaries.

 

Lebanon’s Information Minister Ziad Makari made the announcement on Friday.

 

It was learnt that the closure came after attempts to persuade employees to continue working proved unsuccessful, a report by Elnashra news website said.

 

Xinhua reports that Tele Liban staff started a strike a week ago, citing discontent with their salaries.

 

According to the report, an employee of the channel said that employees have asked for salary increases and social aid to cope with the country’s high inflation and economic difficulties, but their demands have not been met.

 

“We’ve heard many promises, but nothing has happened yet, and we cannot take it anymore,” said the employee, who requested anonymity.

 

Tele Liban, established in the late 1950s, was initially jointly owned by two private companies.

 

The state acquired the private shares in 1996, making the television station fully government-owned.

 

Lebanon has been facing a steep financial crisis amid the collapse of the local currency by over 90 per cent, which caused a devaluation of wages of public sector employees.