BEIRUT, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese legal businesses have suffered from illegal competition by Syrian companies operating in Lebanon, said caretaker Economy Minister Raed Khoury Monday.
"These illegal companies do not pay taxes or social security for their employees while selling their products and services at lower prices," he was quoted by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper, as saying.
"These practices lead to the bankruptcy of local businesses which, in turn, result in high unemployment among the Lebanese," he added.
Khoury said that Lebanon welcomes investors of any nationalities to establish legal businesses in Lebanon.
"We encourage foreign investment in Lebanon but in a legal way," he said.
Khoury added that Syrian refugees are working in sectors that should be only accessible by Lebanese.
"The Lebanese government should take the necessary measures against Syrian refugees who do not abide by the law," he said.
More than one million Syrian refugees are registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Lebanon. The government estimated the true number of Syrians in the country to be 1.5 million.
A Lebanese official said last month that 270,000 Lebanese people have lost their jobs after 384,000 Syrian refugees poured into the country's employment market.
