Jumblat Suggests Sources to Fund Wage Scale, to Make an 'Initiative' toward SCC
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday suggested several sources that can be used to finance the stalled new wage scale, revealing that the PSP will soon make an "initiative" toward the Syndicate Coordination Committee, which has been championing the demands.
“I propose a series of ideas that perhaps can contribute to finding serious and real solutions and putting an end to the political and populist overbidding and to attempts to persuade the working class with delusional exits despite its rightful and legitimate demands,” said Jumblat in a statement.
He suggested curbing tax evasion; ending “corruption and squandering” at the Customs department; controlling unjustified expenses at the ministries of health and education; and making use of the “48,000 state-owned real estates.”
Jumblat proposed “taking drastic decisions in the sectors of energy and electricity,” approving the draft law on illegal seaside properties and imposing taxes on major real estate deals.
He also suggested closing Lebanese embassies in countries that do not contain large Lebanese communities, saying wealthy Norway and Sweden have recently taken a similar decision.
Jumblat stressed the importance of administrative reform at all state institutions, urging every minister to “combat corruption inside their own ministry.”
He also called for reconsidering the huge number of brigadier generals in the armed forces and the privileges of MPs, stressing the need for organizing “a broad political and diplomatic campaign to press the international community to shoulder its responsibilities regarding supporting Lebanon in hosting the refugees and earmarking aid to execute infrastructure projects in the various fields.”
“The PSP will soon announce an initiative toward the SCC to confirm its commitment to its legitimate demands and out of its keenness on the realization of its objectives, while taking into consideration the economic and financial situations and the status of the treasury,” Jumblat added, noting that his party will join forces with the SCC and “with all civil society groups in order to fight corruption in all sectors, based on the aforementioned suggestions.”
Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh stressed on Wednesday that the state treasury will not endure the endorsement of the new salary scale without causing a turmoil in the Lebanese economy.
“The state's treasury will be able to cover only 24 percent annually of the new wage scale costs,” Salameh said in comments published in al-Liwaa newspaper.
He pointed out that the state should fortify its resources and end squandering by implementing reforms that create financial surplus.
The joint parliamentary committees failed again on Tuesday to secure the funds and refer the new wage scale to the parliament for endorsement.
The main point of contention is the Value Added Tax.
The Syndicate Coordination Committee had warned of escalation in the protests, of an open-ended strike and of boycotting (the correction of) official exams.
Former Prime Minister Najib Miqati's cabinet endorsed in 2012 a new salary scale for public employees ending a long dispute that had prompted the SCC to hold several sit-ins and strikes.
President Michel Suleiman signed the decree mid-June 2013 and it was referred to the joint parliamentary committees for further scrutiny.
The wage increase will be retroactive from July 1, 2012.
The state treasury will have more than $1.2 billion to cover as there are over 180,000 public sector employees including military personnel.
Y.R.
M.T.
09 April 2014, 18:30
21
Good points Ya walid. Yalla. Do a commitee with samy and devise solutions.
09 April 2014, 20:05
01
Mr Jumblat, the best way to generate income is for you and all the politicians of both M8 and M14 to stop stealing. Stop the stealing all round, let the people's money go to where it is intended to go, that is the state treasury, plus let public services run as they should, again, more money for the state, again, politicians don't touch what is not yours, then in no time, Lebanon will be up and running. However, let's try to teach old foxes new tricks, that is the very difficult part indeed. How to teach a chronic thief to stop stealing, not easy at all.
09 April 2014, 20:50
01
Since you're so interested Bani Maarouf, I never changed my Nofooz, even if I live in Beirut, I am from Jezzin and I will keep voting there, happy? And you my dear Bani, where did you vote, in the Choof, or did you change your nfoosak.
09 April 2014, 20:50
13
M11er
I agree with you he is making sense now. Also how about stop paying salaries to former MP's who still collect a salary as they are still in their functions.
09 April 2014, 20:52
01
And if it interests you my dear Bani, I am LF, so who do you think I'll vote for?
09 April 2014, 23:51
00
if every warlord politician like you mr joumblat pays 10% of the money you made for the seventies till now Lebanon will be the rivhest country around
10 April 2014, 01:59
00
last time we chatted you mentioned you were in the US. May I ask you where in the US? as I live there
10 April 2014, 02:05
00
I see. you are fairly close to where I live. I do live in southern Calif although I am in Beirut now visiting
10 April 2014, 02:07
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I live in Newport Beach which is about 50 miles south of LA
I go often to Phoenix actually
10 April 2014, 02:10
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Oh I know .. it is dry
actually where I live is pretty much eventhough I live by the beach
10 April 2014, 02:11
00
yes indeed the good ole orange county
where do go when you visit OC?
are you coming back to Beirut this week end?
10 April 2014, 02:16
00
well you may call it vacation...lol
actually my mother passed away and I remodeled my parents home
and bought a chalet close to Faraya. thinking I will be coming back to Beirut more often.
Actually I am having 2nd thoughts about this plan......
10 April 2014, 02:17
00
I will be in Beirut for a bit and I am planning to go back before month end as I have to handle paperwork lawyer stuff as a result of my mom passing away etc...
10 April 2014, 02:26
00
Thank you my friend
I think she is in a better place now as she was really suffering specially the last 2 months of her life bed ridden at the hospital
The reason I am reconsidering is simply I am having a tough time adapting here. I am simply finding it difficult as people here are dollar starved... which keeps me on my guard all the time and I don't like this feeling. I got conned specially during the remodeling process at the house where I had stuff stolen from the house by workers etc...
10 April 2014, 02:27
00
also where ever you go to buy something or get services people have changed as lies and deceit is the name of the game
by the way we have great shawarma in OC there are a few good Lebanese joints there....lol
I just love Lebanon and I am saddened to witness its steady decline it saddens me a lot
10 April 2014, 02:30
00
ah I know the place
and ur friend's city has to be el toro or lake forest, laguna hills???
those are east of Lag bch
10 April 2014, 02:33
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M11er
I am replying at the end of the page as our chat is being placed in various spots here and am getting lost
I am hoping that this comment at the end of the page will make it easier
10 April 2014, 02:35
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yes it is much worse to get conned here and I feel they sense I am not a local so I am on my guard despite that they try and I just don't like the feeling of a siege mentality nor do I care for the driving here..
Admittedly the night life is nice...lol
10 April 2014, 02:41
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yes Beirut is expensive and I feel that alcohol is boot legged or it is watered down or something...
so I assume you are on vacation now...
10 April 2014, 02:42
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no jet lag but as u know it is4:45pm over there so daytime for me to conduct my business via calls internet etc...lol
I have a US line here
10 April 2014, 02:44
00
also if you live in Lebanon and make many calls to the US
I recommend you getting a US line it costs $50 to buy the device so its quite convenient actually
10 April 2014, 02:46
00
I see
I hope you enjoy it
may I ask what kind of business you're in? is it cool to ask you on this site?
10 April 2014, 02:48
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ha ha ha that is what I use
buty why $20/week/
I bought it for 450 and $10/year
10 April 2014, 02:48
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in fact I even got the magic jack plus which is also on my cell
10 April 2014, 03:00
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we are telling our life stories to the many flakes on this site....lol
10 April 2014, 03:05
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yes I was afraid of that
by the way you seem like a cool guy unlike most of the guys on this site....
10 April 2014, 03:08
00
I need to get going
so enjoy your stay in Cancun and I don't know if you're married or not but if you sore a hot senorita there just think of me ...:)
10 April 2014, 03:11
00
thanks bro
well again it was nice chatting with you and have a safe flight back to Beirut and maybe we chat upon your return to paradise on earth AKA Beirut...lol
10 April 2014, 03:14
00
well I am doing ok as I have had a loyal customer base from my banking days. I banked them for a long time and I am very close to them. 2 of them are Lebanese and quite a few are Iranian americans and they love Lebanese bankers...lol and of course I have some plain old American customers but I concentrate on the Iranians as they are loaded with cash to invest
10 April 2014, 03:17
00
so long my friend again thanks for the chat and hope to chat with you upon your return here
10 April 2014, 03:29
00
ha ha ha well when I return to OC Cancun will be within reach...
I will then
Bye for now
