Tire burning has become a daily occurence in Lebanon, with much frustration over poor public services and a volatile security situation. Government response has been minimal at best. This week, contractual workers at Electricite Du Liban (EDL), Lebanon's state-owned power company, took to the streets, protesting poor employment conditions. The protests spread across the country, with frustrated employees storming the company's headquarters and blocking roads in Tyre, Tripoli and the Bekaa Valley. One frustrated electricity contractor even tried to burn himself and was rescued at the last minute. Amidst this tense situation, US-Arab League peace envoy Kofi Annan arrived today in Beirut to discuss the repercussions of the Syrian uprising on Lebanon.

In this week's protests, contractual workers at EDL demanded full time employment and safe working conditions. Over the past 20 years, EDL has failed to provide permanent employment and benefits to 2,500 workers, denying them social security, a steady monthly salary, and job security. Similarly, EDL is threatening to dismiss these workers when they are replaced by private companies. Moreover, recent years have seen 12 workers die from burns or electrocution while 45 have been maimed, 4 severely disfigured, and 3 permanently disabled, highlighting the serious safety problems within the company's operations. Meanwhile, Lebanon's electricity supply has dwindled by almost half across regions outside of Beirut as the strikes enter their fifth week. 

The government has failed to address this structural problem, leading to recurrent power crises and widespread frustration. Minister of Energy and Water Gebran Bassil describes the workers as troublemakers and outlaws. He has proposed hiring 700 workers to become full time employees with benefits after undergoing civil service department exams. He said that the contract workers uprisings "harms EDL" and that some of the workers were intentionally rioting because they do not want the crisis to be resolved. When in the past citizens complained of the lack of basic services, Bassil invited them to protest rather than working to resolve the structural problem as head of the Ministry of Energy.

There is deep concern that the open-ended strike could delay efforts to upgrade aging power stations and that electricity rationing could reach 20 hours a day. While it is not clear in which direction the standoff between the ministry and the workers will head, the rising price of fuel combined with the wage increase passed at the beginning of the year has led to a $129.3 million budget increase for EDL. This issue, however, is indicative of a much greater problem facing the country.

Only two weeks ago the Lebanese economy ministry and the bakeries association disputed the price of bread. One day before a scheduled strike by the bakeries, the government managed to convince mills to lower the cost of flour, barely avoiding another public protest. These recurring incidents highlight a problem with the current governance structure. Power struggles and a general neglect of citizen demands perpetuate the problem. Even approving the fiscal budget proved divisive this year, with an ongoing debate on what the current government will approve.

For their part, despite their frustration with the current situation, Lebanese citizens do not translate their disappointment into political action. It would be more effective to express this frustration at the polls rather than on the streets, but that is a choice the citizens have to make.

Amid this leadership crisis, Lebanese President Michael Suleiman has called for a "national dialogue" to discuss, among other concerns, the issue of Hezbollah's retention of arms - perceived by many to be a cause of tension and a reflection of inequality before the law. Hezbollah's arms has become a threat for some groups, especially in a country with a weak state and army. Regional unrest has increased tensions, with some Lebanese expressing sympathy with the Syrian Revolution, and others propping up the Assad regime. As Lebanon grapples with socio-economic issues and a rise in sectarian tensions, all eyes are on the Annan visit and the upcoming dialogue session, with increasing hopes that it would release some of the accumulated tension and give the Lebanese some breathing space.