BEIRUT, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's public transportation drivers will stage sit-ins at the ports of Beirut, Tripoli and Tyre on August 9 if officials do not take concrete measures to meet their demand, local media reported Monday.
"We stopped our previous protest upon a request from President Michel Aoun who vowed to implement our demands," said Bassam Tleis, head of the Union of Public Drivers, quoted by independent online newspaper Elnashra.
Unions representing public transportation drivers have on many occasions voiced their opposition to the privatization of the automotive inspection centers and the increase in the cost of automotive inspections.
Lebanese company Autospect was awarded over two years ago a contract to manage the centers in collaboration with Swiss logistics company SGS, saying they would offer new and improved services.
Automobile inspection fees would increase 65 percent, from 20 U.S. dollars to 33 dollars.
Tleis previously called upon the government to take control of the automotive inspection centers and to keep current employees while protecting their rights.
The drivers' demands also included the need by the government to track cars with forged plates in addition to stopping foreign drivers from operating and competing with local drivers.
They also urged for putting an end to the chaotic increase in fuel prices and drafting a local transportation strategy to solve traffic problems.
On Monday, Tleis called upon President Aoun to interfere to solve this problem and avoid the escalatory measures that will be taken by drivers on Thursday.
"We do not want to cause trouble to people and to general security on Thursday. This is why we call upon Lebanese officials to act promptly and deliver what they promised," he said.
