Berri Calls for Parliamentary Session on Tuesday to Discuss New Salary Scale
Speaker Nabih Berri called for a parliamentary session next week to discuss the new wage scale draft-law a day after the Joint Parliamentary Committees wrapped tackling it and referred it to the general assembly.
The state-run National News Agency reported that Berri called for a parliamentary session on Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. to finish discussions on the new salary scale.
After weeks of discussions and nation-wide protests, that were led by the Syndicate Coordination Committee, the Joint Parliamentary Committees approved late on Friday the new wage scale and referred it to the parliament for a vote.
A delegation from the Association of Banks in Lebanon handed over to President Michel Suleiman a memo including the risks that the economy would have to bear if some articles in the new wage scale draft-law were endorsed.
Most of Lebanon's banks closed their branches on Friday in protest to the matter.
The Economic Committees, which reject the new wage scale, held an emergency meeting on Thursday in order to study the “catastrophic tax measures” adopted by the joint parliamentary committees and their effects on the national economy.
Jean Beiruti, secretary-general of the Hotel Owners Association, also handed over his resignation to the tourism minister for consideration.
Beiruti's resignation came in light of the Joint Parliamentary Committees decision.
The SCC had warned of escalating protests, of an open-ended strike and of boycotting official exams' correction if the parliament fails to endorse the new wage scale.
Former Prime Minister Najib Miqati's cabinet approved 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.
- H. K.
- D. A.
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