The Association of Traders in Nabatieh has requested the parliamentary committee assigned to address the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Defense Council, and the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities to "amend the decision made to reopen the country in four phases."
In a statement following an urgent meeting of its administrative body, the committee called on the relevant authorities to include "all commercial sectors" in the first phase of a gradual reopening due to the economic and financial damage suffered by traders as a result of the prolonged closure of all sectors. They committed to adhering to preventive measures such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing. The association announced that "traders are unable to pay their employees' salaries, rents, and other accumulated fees and debts."
Yesterday evening, the Association of Traders in Tripoli appealed to the ministers of interior and municipalities in the caretaker government, Major General Mohammad Fahmy, and Health Minister Dr. Hamad Hassan, and the relevant COVID-19 committee to "amend the decision to resume economic activity, which is distributed over four phases, each lasting 15 days."
In their statement today, the committee demanded the inclusion of shops and commercial institutions in the first phase and allowing them to reopen, even with limited hours from 10 AM to 3 PM, to alleviate the sector's further damage and the risks of bankruptcy and collapse that it has faced for over a year in an unprecedented manner.
