Miqati Meets Economic Committees, GLC: Cooperation Needed to Preserve Country’s Economic Identity
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Wednesday that Lebanon is required to establish a more liberal economy, maintain the role of the private sector, and achieve social stability.
He said: “We are facing major challenges and we should therefore cooperate in order to maintain Lebanon’s economic identity, which is based on economic freedom.”
He made his statements after holding talks at the Grand Serail with a joint delegation from the Economic Committees and General Labor Confederation, headed by former minister Adnan Kassar and Ghassan Ghosn respectively.
“We should aspire to become more modern” and not be forced to take measures that would weaken the economy, Miqati said.
The premier added: “The Baabda agreement on the wage hike will help achieve this stability.”
He described the agreement as an historic agreement, adding that it enjoys his complete support.
Furthermore, the he spoke of a conference for the Economic Committees, GLC, and concerned ministers in order to tackle developing Lebanon’s economy and reach a new social contract.
For his part, Kassar stated: “Despite the current political divide, the economic Committees, GLC, and private sector are cooperating together for the sake of Lebanon given the difficult local and regional circumstances.”
Ghosn hoped that the agreement on the wage hike would pave the way for tackling socio-economic issues that would help provide job opportunities “for our youth and therefore deter them from heading abroad.”
The Baabda agreement, signed on December 21, set the minimum wage at LL675,000 – a sum that excludes the transportation allowance.
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