BEIRUT: The Lebanese Ministry of Labor announced it will finally allow Palestinian refugees born in Lebanon to legally work at manual and clerical jobs in the country, ending 20 years of discrimination. In an official statement, Lebanon's outgoing Labor Minister Tarrad Hamadeh said: "From now on Palestinians born on Lebanese land and registered officially with the Lebanese Interior Ministry will be allowed to work in the jobs previously unavailable to them."

The move brings Lebanon more in line with other Arab countries who long ago granted Palestinian refugees the right to work, and have in some cases offered them citizenship.

But despite the measure, the Lebanese government insisted a ban on Palestinians seeking professional employment will remain in place, meaning Palestinian workers will be restricted to manual and clerical work.

There are around 400,000 registered Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, 90 percent of whom were born in Lebanon and will be eligible to work. Anyone aged 57 and below will benefit from the work permit.

Lebanon's about face comes just two months after Syria ended its 29-year military presence in Lebanon.

The Syrian withdrawal also led to the departure of hundreds of thousands of Syrian migrant laborers who worked in Lebanon's booming construction market, but who have since suffered from an anti-Syrian backlash - with some even being attacked by locals.

Until now, Lebanon, unlike neighboring Jordan, has steadfastly refused to encourage Palestinians to become part of Lebanese society, insisting that the refugees must return home, fearing the impact of permanent settlement on Lebanon's fragile sectarian balance.

The 12 Palestinian camps in Lebanon are subject to rigid planning restraints which prohibit the erection of permanent homes. Lebanese camps are generally seen as the most dire in the Arab world.

Charities working with Palestinian refugees in Lebanon applauded the government's move.

Wafa Elyassir, who works with Norwegian People's Aid, said: "The fear that Palestinians will now give up their right of return and overwhelm Lebanon are unfounded, given how Palestinians living abroad, with far more opportunities and leisure, are still holding on to their right of return to Palestine."