- 28
- May
- 2025
For years, employees of Lebanon’s two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, have waged a determined campaign to secure their rights. Through strikes, sit-ins, and sustained demands, they’ve held their ground. The phone lines may crackle—but their message rings clear. A closer look at a protest movement that shows no sign of slowing down.
For years, employees of Lebanon’s two mobile operators, Alfa and Touch, have been fighting—unsuccessfully—to claim what they’re rightfully owed: bonuses, a 13th-month salary, collective contracts, and a worthy pension.
Their determination hasn’t waned. And today, they’re making themselves heard —once again.
Marc Aoun, head of the employees’ union, is blunt: “We’re not backing down,” he tells This is Beirut.
Among the core demands are unpaid bonuses for 2022, 2023, and 2024. “These bonuses were promised but never paid,” Aoun says. He also notes that the 13th-month salary for 2024 is still outstanding—“a guaranteed entitlement that hasn’t been met.”
Then there’s the long-awaited collective contract, which Aoun calls “a crucial guarantee for employees’ rights and long-term stability.”
Stark Inequalities
Employees point to glaring inequalities. While some benefit from privileged conditions, many others have been left out. Internal sources disclose that five employees secured early retirement through connections, while most remain in limbo, with no clear answers. They blame Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage for failing to provide the necessary documents that would allow retirees to access their benefits.
The same sources question Liban Telecom’s true motives. They also question why employees at the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority reportedly earn between $7,000 and $8,000, as stated by the Telecom Minister, while Alfa and Touch workers struggle to reach $2,000 despite shouldering similar responsibilities.
5G: Costly Investment, Misaligned Priorities
Even as plans to deploy 5G with a $200 million price tag move forward, existing antennas are rusting, phone lines are failing, and the infrastructure is decades old. Reliable phone service remains out of reach. It’s like performing cosmetic surgery on a patient who hasn’t even received basic care. Employees remain skeptical: wouldn’t it make more sense to repair what’s broken before chasing the dream of lightning-fast speeds?
Employees at Alfa and Touch are not just pushing for pay raises, Aoun emphasizes—they’re seeking recognition of their work and their rights. “This movement is a call for social justice and fairness. They’re asking for real, tangible solutions.”
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