Lebanon: Foreign workers must take yearly tuberculosis tests
BEIRUT: Foreign workers will now be subject to annual health tests due to the high prevalence of tuberculosis among migrant workers and Syrian refugees, said a memo issued by Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi Monday.
The memo said it would still be mandatory “for every foreign worker who intends to work in Lebanon to undergo tuberculosis skin tests and chest X-rays during the first week of arrival.”
But foreign workers will now also be required to undergo skin and X-ray examinations upon the renewal of their work permits, it said. The implementation of the decision is set for Sept. 3.
Requests for first-time work permits will not be addressed before the results are issued by a state-owned public hospital. In the case of a positive test, a work permit will not be issued before the patient is reviewed by a tuberculosis center.
Source: The Daily Star
