Economic Committees, GLC to Meet as Shura Council Studies New Wage Hike Proposal

Premier Najib Miqati is scheduled to bring the Economic Committees and the General Labor Confederation together on Monday after Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas proposed a new wage hike.

The Shura Council is now studying the wage boost proposal amid hopes that it would issue its decision ahead of a cabinet session that will be held under President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace on Tuesday.

Although the salary increase is not on its agenda, ministerial sources did not rule out its discussion by the government if the Committees and the GLC reach a deal and the Shura Council gives its green light.

The Shura Council turned down earlier in the week Nahhas’ wage hike plan that the cabinet had approved in December.

The proposal called for raising the minimum wage to LL868,000 – a sum that includes a LL236,000 transportation allowance. It also gave an 18 percent raise for employees earning less than LL1.5 million and a 10 percent increase for salaries between LL1.5 million and LL2.5 million.

But the new proposal reportedly suggests a 100 percent increase on the first bracket under LL1 million and 25 percent on the second bracket above LL1 million. But LL200,000 will be deducted from the wages due to the raise approved by the government in 2008, which indicates that the new minimum wage will be LL800,000.

The Economic Committees and the GLC had agreed to set the minimum wage at LL675,000 – a sum that excludes the transportation allowance. But the cabinet approved Nahhas’ proposal of LL868,000, which was later rejected by the Shura Council, forcing the minister to make a new proposal.

Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas told LBC TV on Sunday that the cabinet is reaching a final solution to the wage hike.

He stressed that Monday’s meeting between the Committees and the GLC is aimed at consolidating their agreement.