Job losses and pay cuts as Lebanon’s economy crumbles

Job losses and pay cuts as Lebanon’s economy crumbles

BEIRUT “” Weeks into a protest movement partly driven by a collapsing economy, Lebanese interior architect Laeticia Nicolas was called in by her boss and told she was fired.

"There had been fewer and fewer projects for a year," said the 28-year-old, who since October 17 has taken part in unprecedented anti-government protests sweeping the country.

"Before the revolution began, they warned us they'd be paying just half our salaries in exchange for reducing working hours," she said.

But as the protests gained momentum, he downsized his team. Nicolas was informed of the bad news at the end of the month when she received her salary.

"It's not because of the revolution, but it may well have accelerated things," she said.

After years of political turmoil, the Lebanese economy is in a sharp downturn, banks have restricted access to dollars while prices have risen.

Amid the crisis, thousands of Lebanese say their jobs are under threat.

Activists have denounced what they call illegal lay-offs and urged the labour ministry to intervene.

Some people, like Nicolas, have lost their jobs altogether; others have been told to work part-time for a fraction of their original salary.

A woman who asked to be identified as "Mary" was among those forced to take