Drawing moustaches on posters of rival confessions (and most confessions appear to be serious rivals) can lead to violence. The point is that allowing Palestinians to work will be objected to in some quarters, but not much more than other issues and the is no evidence that it will not bring down or even alter the confessional system "balance." Moreover, the refugees from Palestine have never sought to vote, do not now seek the right to vote, and have no intention to do so according to their community leaders and polling data. Consequently, allowing them some civil rights would not add or distract from any Lebanese sect when forming a Cabinet, voting for Legislative candidates or advancing or retarding sensitive sectarian legislation in Parliament.
"Palestinian refugees don't contribute to Lebanon's economy so why should Lebanon allow them the right to work?" Actually, despite facing severe work restriction most Palestinian refugee households have at least one family member who is employed (often illegally and at a lower exploitive wage than Lebanese citizens) constitute 10 per cent of all private consumption in Lebanon, and do not burden the Lebanese welfare system, according to a recent report by The Najdeh (Welfare) Association, funded by aid agencies Diakonia and Christian aid. The study is the result of a survey of 1,500 households in eight refugee camps across Lebanon and a number of focus group discussions, and assesses the income of Palestinian refugees, challenges to and perceptions of work, and their contribution to the Lebanese economy.
According to Najdeh, the study was designed "to examine the contribution to the economy of the host country Lebanon.", the report found one third of the individuals sampled works, and roughly 40 per cent were searching for work. Only 1.7 per cent of those surveyed had work permits, a fact the report said "renders the Palestinian refugee labor force invisible in official statistics" and exacerbates their socioeconomic marginalization. Far below a livable wage, median monthly wages for Palestinian Refugees has declined from $260-266 in 2007 to $108-112 "during the first half of 2008." An overwhelming majority (84 per cent) of Palestinian households believe there are no work prospects for their children in Lebanon.
Although Palestinian refugees on a
per capita basis cannot legally contribute much to the Lebanese economy through
employment, their large numbers means they count for 10 per cent (approximately
$352 million) of all private consumption in Lebanon. Food, healthcare and rent
constitute their top spending priorities.
Consistent studies over the six decades have shown that Palestinians have aided Lebanon's economy and do much more if allowed to work and open businesses. An early study dated 12/18/59 by the Arab Supreme Committee showed that the total monetary balance transferred by Palestinians from assets in Palestine, the sale of family jewelry to buy food etc. was more than three times the annual budget of the Lebanese state in the early 1950s as has the UNRWA relief, education and health and salary budgets mainly spent in Lebanon. This propelled the Lebanese. However, by not allowing the Palestinians to work Lebanon has stunted its economy.
Before the PLO administration left
Lebanon in August of 1982, it created directly or indirectly more than 40,000
jobs or approximately 18 per cent of Lebanon's GNP. The PLO budget may have
been larger than that of the Lebanese state itself. Palestinians also
contributed to "invigorating" the areas surrounding their camps by creating
low-cost markets for low-income and other marginalized communities in Lebanon.
The "Sabra, Ein el-Hilweh and Nahr al-Bared camp markets are recognized as
major informal economic hubs for the poor," said the report, adding that the
destruction of Nahr al-Bared during the battles of 2007 had "resulted in a gap
in the Akkar" region in northern Lebanon for such communities.
The debate continues, "the cause endures"".
Palestine Civil Rights Campaign-Lebanon "Failure is not an option for the Palestine Civil Rights Campaign, our only choice is success, "says 15 year old Hiba Hajj, a PCRC volunteer at the Ein el Helwe Palestinian Camp in Saida, Lebanon. If you haven't already, please sign here (you don't have to be Lebanese!): http://www.petitiononline.com/ssfpcrc/petition.html
Franklin Lamb volunteers with the Palestine Civil Rights Campaign in Lebanon. He is reachable at fplamb@palestinecivilrightscampaign.org.
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