10,000 workers lose jobs in Lebanon as nationwide protests continue

BEIRUT, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) said on Wednesday that 10,000 workers have lost their jobs while 60,000 employees suffered a 50-percent cut in their salaries as nationwide protests continue, a local media outlet reported.

Some businesses are taking advantage of the current crisis to fire employees and make more profits by reducing their costs, CGTL's Vice President Hassan Fakih was quoted by Elnashra, an independent online newspaper, as saying.

Fakih called on businesses to make more efforts to keep employees in their jobs to avoid a more serious social crisis.

Lebanon has been witnessing months of nationwide protests amid a shortage of U.S. dollar, incurring heavy losses to local businesses.