Jumblat Warns of Wage Scale Impact as Miqati, Karami Decide to Boycott Tuesday Session
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat recognized on Monday “sacrifices” made by the Syndicate Coordination Committee and its “legitimate” social demands regarding the new wage scale.
He told the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website however: “Any adventure in approving the wage scale will have unpredictable repercussions on the national economy.”
He explained that the failure to provide the funding of the scale only emphasizes his warning.
The repercussions of the adoption of the wage hike should be sufficient warning against its approval “regardless of the extent of the popular demand for it,” he added.
“Protecting the national economy and monetary stability is the responsibility of all political powers,” Jumblat remarked.
He also urged them to launch a “wide administrative reform operation in various sectors.”
“This demand should rise above petty political interests,” stressed the MP.
Jumblat also highlighted other problems facing the economy, such as the lack of a state budget, the rising public debt, losses in the energy sector, and increase in unemployment
“There is a need to focus attention on the economy as all sides are too busy offering analyses of international developments while the Lebanese citizen seeks the election of a president and earning a decent living,” he lamented.
Meanwhile, al-Tadamon bloc, which comprises Tripoli MPs Najib Miqati and Ahmed Karami, announced that it will boycott Tuesday's session over the new wage scale because the proposed draft “does not balance between expenditure and revenues.”
“The suggested additional revenues represent an obstacle to economic growth, especially amid the current economic situations, not to mention the dangerous impact of the deficit estimated by the recent draft state budget, which does not even mention the new wage scale's figures,” the bloc said in a statement.
“The most important missing point is agreement over the reforms, which are inevitable if we want any reformist plan to succeed,” it added.
The SCC, a coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees, has called for a two-day strike after Education Minister Elias Bou Saab pledged to hold the official exams on time even if parliament failed to approve the pay hike.
It held on Monday a sit-in in Beirut amid a deepening row with lawmakers on the wage scale draft-law and with the education minister on the official exams that are set to start on Thursday.
Parliament is scheduled to meet on Tuesday to address the new wage scale draft-law.
It is not clear whether MPs will approve the scale because the different parties represented in parliament remain divided over proposed taxes to fund the raise.
The public sector employees and teachers are holding onto a 121 percent increase in their salaries. But a ministerial-parliamentary committee has proposed to reduce the total funding from LL2.8 trillion ($1.9 billion) to LL1.8 trillion ($1.2 billion).
It has also called for raising certain taxes, which are a source of controversy among parliamentary blocs.
M.T./Y.R.
G.K.
09 June 2014, 15:33
22
what will they do to him at the International Socialist meeting?
09 June 2014, 15:52
74
Ya batal el internet inta ..
Once your militia stops stealing and squandering our resources then maybe the economy will pick up some steam.
Pretending to be a macho man on the internet is easily done.
Go clean your master's beard- you never know , he might give you a free pass to his imaginary heaven once you hit the bucket.
09 June 2014, 18:47
11
Jumblat Warns of Wage Scale's Repercussions on Economy...........
such repercussion pales in comparison to that caused by our crooked Politicians (Jumblat included) and Rogue militants (HA and all others)/
09 June 2014, 16:12
20
The roar
Here we go then you are talking about a sectarian leader while I am talking about a Lebanese leader. That says it all! if we keep viewing leaders of one sect instead of wanting and expecting a national leader we will be remaining in the abyss. sectarian leaders be it junblatt, gemayel, frangieh etc must be eliminated and make way to true national leaders.
Enough of these warlords mafioso
09 June 2014, 16:54
43
@Southern : Hezbollah sheep are not in a position to talk about "Progress", "Socialism" and what I assume you mean is "Patriotism".
Progress means building the future of your country. Not building armies, piling up weapons, going to war and murdering your enemies.
Socialism means creating an environment where all citizens are equal. Hezbollah is a sectarian Shiite armed terrorist organisation. No sense of socialism there
Patriotism simply means not taking orders from Iran or Bashar. Nasrallah is as loyal as a dog to your Ayatollah... Lebanon comes last in his priorities. No patriotism there !
09 June 2014, 17:31
41
@Southern :
1- I will not leave HA alone. I will keep bashing at it till the last weapon is dropped. And so will the majority of the Lebanese people who want to have a peaceful future.
2- HA without weapons is perfectly acceptable. It's unacceptable for any armed party to remain in Lebanon.
3- An "old" generation terrorist organisation cannot take out "new generation" terrorists. NO ONE tasked you to deal with them.
In fact, you using your weapons to fight anyone other than Israel and Liberate Lebanon is a clear violation of your Memorandum of Understanding with Aoun.
We have the army to protect us from Takfriri and whatever ghosts you come up with so again, drop your weapons !
09 June 2014, 20:19
40
I forgot your concept of bashing involves use of lethal force, weapons or murder :)
Now go bash takfiri zionist cannibals in Syria and the millions of syrians who did not vote for Bashar. Yalla ta chouf...
09 June 2014, 20:09
20
The Constitution requires that Parliament cannot address any issue other than the election of the President until the President is elected once things have come to the point that they are at in Lebanon. So how can the Parliament go on to address the wage scale issue when the issue of the Presidential election remains outstanding and not complete.
If a quorum is gathered to vote for the wage scale issue, by law, the quorum should first address the Presidential election before addressing any other business. Article 75 of the Lebanese Constitution so states
09 June 2014, 23:27
01
hey crook politicians: you had 3 years to study the draft! but kept procrastinating because you all refuse to give up your privileges! you refuse to reform because it goes against your businesses! there is money, just no will to satisfy legitimate demands of fed up citizens!
now you are just trying to scare people to smear the movement!
you are all useless and incompetent fools... pity those sheep still supporting you , they are as useless as you!
