(The Daily Star)- Lebanon public drivers Tuesday continued with their strike which caused the country's automotive inspection centers to shut down until the state takes control of the facilities.
Truckers and taxi drivers in the capital Beirut, in the eastern city of Zahle, and in south and north Lebanon blocked the entrances to the automotive centers, preventing employees from entering for the second day in a row.
The protests were called by the Union and Leagues of Land Transport.
Demonstrators in the town of Ghazieh in south Lebanon erected a tent at the entrance of the center.
Lebanese company Autospect was recently awarded a contract to manage the centers in collaboration with Swiss giant SGS. The company said that it would offer new and improved services.
Automobile inspection fees will reportedly increase 65 percent, from $20 to $33.
Unions representing public transportation drivers have rejected the increase and demonstrated against the changes.
Protesters are demanding that the Cabinet take back control of the centers and refrain from privatizing the sector.
Shadi al-Sayed, spokesman of the union in north Lebanon, said that the escalatory moves were to better serve the people.
"We will not back down until the Interior Minister backs down," Sayed said, warning that the centers will remain closed "indefinitely."
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