Lebanon, often known as the Lebanese Republic or the Republic of Lebanon, is a nation in Western Asia. It is bounded to the north and east by Syria and to the south by Israel, with Cyprus to the west across the Mediterranean Sea; its position at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has contributed to its rich past and formed a religiously diverse cultural identity. Lebanon has a population of around six million people and an area of 10,452 square kilometers (4,036 square miles), making it one of the world's smallest nations. The state's official language is Arabic, however, French is also nominally recognized; the Lebanese dialect of Arabic is spoken across the nation alongside Modern Standard Arabic.
The oldest trace of civilization in Lebanon predates documented history by about 7000 years. The Phoenicians, a maritime society that lasted for about 3000 years (c. 3200–539 BCE), lived in modern-day Lebanon. The Roman Empire seized the province in 64 BCE, and it ultimately became one of the empire's primary centers of Christianity. The Mount Lebanon range witnessed the birth of the Maronite Church, a monastic institution. The Maronites retained their faith and identity when the territory was conquered by the early Arab Muslims. However, a new religious sect known as the Druze later established themselves in Mount Lebanon as well, resulting in a centuries-long religious division. The Maronites re-established communication with the Roman Catholic Church and emphasized their communion with Rome during the Crusades. In the early eighteenth century, the Maronite Catholics and the Druze established modern Lebanon via the "Maronite-Druze dualism" in Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate.
The Ottoman Empire seized Lebanon in the 16th century and ruled it for the following 400 years. During the fall of the Ottoman Empire following World War I, the five Ottoman provinces that comprise modern-day Lebanon were placed under the French Mandate for Syria and Lebanon, under which the French-ruled precursor state of Greater Lebanon was founded. Following Nazi Germany's invasion and occupation of the French Third Republic during World War II, French control over the area diminished. Lebanon adopted a unique confessionalist style of government after obtaining independence from Free France in 1943, with particular governmental powers assigned to the state's main religious sects. Lebanon was very steady at first. This calm was short-lived and was eventually disrupted by the start of large-scale violence between different political and sectarian groups during the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990). Lebanon was also subjected to overlapping foreign military occupations by Syria from 1976 to 2005 and by Israel from 1985 to 2000 during this time period. There have been substantial attempts to recover the economy and reconstruct national infrastructure after the war's conclusion.
Lebanon is a developing nation, ranked 92nd on the Human Development Index and ranking among the top in the Arab world outside of the Persian Gulf's oil-rich economy. It is considered a state with an upper medium income. However, the Lebanese liquidity crisis, corruption, and recent events have resulted in currency collapse, political insecurity, severe shortages, high unemployment, and poverty. Despite its modest population, Lebanese culture is well-known in the Middle East and across the world, thanks largely to its large diaspora. Lebanon is a founding member of the UN and a member of the Arab League, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie.
After one year of service, employees are entitled to 15 days of paid annual leave. When the leave is taken may be determined by the employer. Employees are also entitled to two paid personal days in the event of a family death.
Lebanon observes the following holidays:
New Year’s Day
Orthodox Christmas
St. Maroun’s Day
Rafik Hariri Memorial Day
Annunciation Day
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
Orthodox Good Friday
Orthodox Easter Sunday
Labor Day
Martyrs’ Day
Resistance and Liberation Day
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Adha
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Islamic New Year
Ashura
The Prophet’s Birthday
Independence Day
Christmas Day
If a public holiday occurs on the weekend, employees do not receive a substitute day.
The length of sick leave is determined by the length of time an employee has worked for the company. If an employee's sick leave exceeds 30 days and they need more sick days, the additional days are deducted from their annual vacation leave days, up to a maximum of eight days.
Employers provide 10 weeks of paid maternity leave to female employees. Employees may also be eligible for reimbursements for maternity care under Lebanon's social security system. Although a male employee may be absent on the day of his child's birth, there is currently no right to paternity leave in Lebanon.
A proposal to provide up to three days of paternity leave is pending Parliament's approval.
Other than the already mentioned terms for maternity leave in Lebanon, there are no other provisions in the law regarding parental leave.
The contract may be terminated by either the employer or the employee. This needs a written termination notice that indicates unequivocally why the employee is being terminated.
Employees are entitled to leave work one hour early each day during the notice period in order to seek alternative employment. Pregnant employees, as well as those on maternity, sick, or vacation leave, are not eligible for termination notice. In some limited circumstances, an employer may cancel a contract without providing notice or paying severance.
In Lebanon, the notice period is between one and four months.
When an employee is hired for the first time, he or she is placed on a three-month probationary period. Following the trial period, the employer must pay at least the monthly minimum wage of 675, 000 LBP.
The severance payment is generally one month of salary for every year of service.
The standard workweek is 48 hours with 36 hours of rest, which equates to approximately 8 hours per day with one hour of rest.
Employees may work overtime, but the total number of hours worked per day, including regular hours and overtime, cannot exceed 12 hours. Employers are required to notify the Social Affairs Service of any overtime worked by an employee within the preceding 24 hours.
Lebanon's minimum wage is 30,000 Lebanese pounds (LBP) per day, or 675,000 LBP per month. However, this wage was last changed in 2012, and it is possible that it will change again in the coming years. While this is the minimum wage, keep in mind that certain positions or industries may require a higher wage.
In Lebanon, primary healthcare is available through public and private health insurance. The National Social Security Fund is primarily responsible for funding public health insurance (NSSF). The Ministry of Public Health pays for hospitalization costs for people who do not have public health insurance (MOPH).
Companies in Lebanon are imposed a corporate tax rate of 17 percent.
Taxable persons in Lebanon are subject to a personal income tax rate between 2 percent and 25 percent. The actual percentage varies depending on the income bracket the taxable person belongs to.
The value-added tax (VAT) or goods and sales tax (GST) in Lebanon is currently set at 11 percent.
The Lebanon visa policy, often known as the Lebanon visa, is required for certain passengers who want to enter the Lebanese border. The visa was developed to provide the Lebanese government the ability to admit visitors into the nation.
This visa is part of Lebanon's visa policy and permits visitors to acquire and utilize it to enter the country. You may enter, travel through, and stay in Lebanon, as well as leave it.
The conditions that must be satisfied in order to get a Lebanon visa vary and are depending on various factors such as the nation from which the tourist holds a passport, the amount of time the visitor wishes to remain, and the reason for the traveler's visit to Lebanon. Lebanon provides just one visa for visitors, and it is the responsibility of the visitor to apply for this visa. This visa grants tourists the ability to remain in Lebanon for a period of no more than 30 days.
There are several nations that are excluded from the Lebanon visa policy and do not need a visa to visit the country. Passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan are included. These passport holders must additionally have a Gulf Cooperation Council national number.
The Lebanon visa policy includes just one major visa. Anyone who wishes to visit Lebanon and does not have a passport that qualifies for a visa exemption must apply online or at certain Lebanon airports. The nations listed above are exempt, therefore if you have a valid passport from one of them, you do not need to seek a visa.
Employer and employee information and addresses
The start date
Expiration date in the case of fixed-term contracts
Job description
Salary, payment method to a bank account, and payment intervals (one month, or every two weeks)
The probation period, which cannot exceed three months
There is no set length for assignments. This is usually indicated in the employment contract for fixed-term employments.
United States Dollar (USD)
Lebanese Pound (LBP)
If you don't already know how to establish up a subsidiary in Lebanon, you should take the time to understand the relevant regulations or work with a specialist. The procedure of establishing your subsidiary is determined by its location and the nature of your intended commercial activity. Various cities or areas in Lebanon may have different Lebanon subsidiary laws, much as different states in the United States may have different laws and regulations. Always examine the regulations of a possible region or consult with an expert to determine the ideal location to incorporate.
After locating a physical office space in a foreign incorporation-friendly region, you must establish your Lebanon subsidiary as one of many distinct companies. You may form a limited liability company (LLC), a public limited company, an offshore business, a holding company, a branch office, or a representative office in Lebanon. The entity you choose is determined by the activities and goods you want to provide. Companies who want to function in Lebanon and accomplish a variety of things frequently employ the LLC structure since it gives them the greatest flexibility.
The following stages are involved in the establishment of a subsidiary in Lebanon:
1. Signing the articles of incorporation in the presence of a public notary
2. Obtaining a stamp and paying the required registration costs
3. Placing your minimum paid-up share capital in a local bank, which will provide you a certificate
4. Creating a board of directors and appointing a chairman
5. Issuing a promotional circular with the signatures of all authorized signatories
6. Filling up the incorporation certificate
7. Filing a registration demand with the Commerce Registry and presenting the required documentation
8. After the firm is registered, the capital is released from the bank.
Depending on whose organization you employ for the incorporation procedure, you'll have to follow a distinct set of Lebanon subsidiary laws. To finish the company establishment procedure as an LLC, you'll need $3,400 in paid-up share capital as well as three shareholders. Your firm must have one director, who must be either a foreigner or a resident of Lebanon.
All LLCs will need the services of a company attorney, who must charge at least the minimum annual retainer fee set by the Beirut Bar Association. Your firm is only required to undergo an annual audit if specific conditions are met, such as:
1. Over $20,000 in share capital
2. Over $500,000 in annual revenue
