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14 Sep 2020

Lebanon: Migrant waste collectors at RAMCO left unpaid and forced to work despite having tested positive to COVID-19; clients of Ramco provide clarifications

In a statement issued on 28 August, The Global Alliance of Waste Pickers alleges that migrant workers, mainly from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Syria and India, at RAMCO Lebanon have been facing labour abuses by the company. The statement alleges that RAMCO has failed to pay wages to 200 of its workers. The statement mentions that some Bangladeshi workers at RAMCO who died in the Beirut’s explosion of 4th August are waste collectors. According to the same statement, workers of Ramco are allegedly exposed to unsafe working conditions and forced to pick toxic waste, particularly as workers are reportedly positive to covid-19.

The Global Alliance of Waste Pickers called on RAMCO to facilitate the repatriation of all migrant workers who wish to return to their homes and to provide a better access to health for the workers affected by covid-19.

Business and Human Rights Resource Centre contacted RAMCO for a response. We have received the comments below in response to the raised allegations.

In September 2020, we also reached out to publicly displayed clients of Ramco . These clients are : Coca Cola, Middle East Airlines, MTV lebanon, FransaBank and Marriott. Coca Cola and Middle East Airlines denied recent contractual relationship with the company. Others did not respond.

Company Responses

Middle East Airlines View Response
Fransabank Group

No Response

MTV Lebanon

No Response

Coca-Cola View Response
Marriott View Response

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