Jumblat Suggests Sources to Fund Wage Scale, to Make an 'Initiative' toward SCC
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.
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