Lebanon Files Complaint at ILO Against Israeli Pager Blasts

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Lebanon’s Minister of Labor, Moustafa Bayram, on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, said that his government had filed a complaint with the International Labour Organization (ILO) regarding the deadly pager explosions in the country in September. 

Considering the ILO’s stance on workers’ safety and security, the minister said, “So that’s why I came here to file a complaint at the ILO because if left unchecked, this crime could become normalized and generalized in the future.”

Bayram described the attack as an “egregious war against humanity, against technology, against work,” he said at a press conference with the Association of Accredited Correspondents to the United Nations (ACANU) in Geneva. According to him, over 4,000 civilians “fell between martyrs, injured, and maimed” in a matter of minutes.

“It sets a bad precedent,” he said.

Although Israel does not officially accept responsibility, the minister said it’s been “internationally accepted” that Israel was behind the series of attacks.

“We are in a situation where ordinary objects, objects you use in daily life, become dangerous and lethal,” he said, adding that some workers lost fingers and some others lost their complete eyesight in the attacks.

Lebanon has raised the issue and underscored that it cannot happen in the future. “We deemed it necessary to point out that this runs contrary to the work environment, security, and safety, contrary to decent work principles… defended by the ILO,” he said.

Lebanon’s mission in Geneva told Anadolu that the complaint was filed “three days ago.”

He also acknowledges the possibility of filing a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the future.

Minister Bayram also called for a ceasefire and full implementation of UN resolution 1701 urging a full cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.

ANADOLU | ANTARA

Editor’s Choice: UN Says Civilian Suffering in Lebanon is a ‘Grave Concern’

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News