Bakery Unions Warn of Emergency to Protect Bread

The Union of Bakery Unions in Lebanon warned that "the continuous rise in prices of wheat, flour, fuel, electricity, and transportation is placing the bakery sector and the Lebanese citizen, especially the popular classes, at a highly dangerous stage."

In a statement following an emergency session of its executive council, it noted that "the government inherited an economically and financially collapsed country, and the war since October 7 has left heavy burdens, particularly on the south, the suburbs, and the Beqaa region," highlighting that "disruptions in the Black Sea and the straits of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb have caused global increases in oil and fuel prices, directly impacting the cost of producing the loaf."

The union reminded of the Beirut port explosion that destroyed grain silos, stating that "the union has continued calling for their reconstruction and securing a strategic reserve for Lebanon, without serious response over the past years."

It emphasized that "neither the poor citizen nor bakeries can indefinitely bear these price gaps," asserting that Lebanon faces "a military, security, economic, and social war," and that time is running out for everyone.

It clarified that "the platform used by the Ministry of Economy and the union calculates the bread price based on raw material costs and exchange rates, so continuing cost increases will inevitably lead to new rises in the price of a bread bundle."

The union called on the government to "take immediate action and declare an economic and social state of emergency to protect bread and the poorest groups," stressing that "it is not asking for arbitrary support, but rather expanding the social safety net and covering bread costs for families most in need through a transparent and well-thought-out mechanism."

It also demanded that the union be a key partner with the Ministry of Economy in designing and monitoring the support mechanism, "to prevent repeating the mistakes of the previous support experience, including waste, violations, and legal proceedings."

It stressed that its statement is a "clear warning," affirming that "it is unacceptable for the poor to bear alone the cost of war, energy crisis, and economic collapse, and it is unjust to burden bakeries with costs they can no longer afford."

It concluded: "Protecting the loaf of bread is a national responsibility, and the solution must begin now before it is too late."