Cabinet Set to End Dispute over New Wages Scale as SCC Holds onto Stance
The lingering dispute between the Syndicate Coordination Committee and the cabinet over the new wages scale is expected to continue as the government is exerting efforts to allocate the sources of funding and maintain the country's financial balance, local newspapers reported on Thursday.
The cabinet agreed during a session held on Wednesday to tackle the matter in an “exceptional” session next week at the Baabda Palace to end the bickering over the issue and refer it to the parliament.
Prime Minister Najib Miqati criticized in comments published in As Safir newspaper on Thursday the demonstration staged by the SCC to protest the cabinet's failure to meet its promises.
“We have already approved the draft law but we have to find the appropriate resources to fund it without leaving any negative repercussions on the economy and our financial system,” the premier told the daily.
The SCC staged on Wednesday a wide protest near the Grand Serail threatening to cordon off the Grand Serail until their demands are met.
Miqati pointed out that the delay in referring the draft law will not affect the public employees as the new wages scale will be retroactive from July 2012.
He said that Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi will propose during the upcoming session the sources to fund the new salaries scale.
For his part, head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib reiterated in comments published in As Safir that the SCC will “paralyze” the country and hold an open-ended strike if the cabinet failed to resolve the matter next week.
Ministerial sources told An Nahar newspaper that wrapping up the matter will not be “easy” as the government is annoyed by the endeavors undertaken by the SCC and its threats.
The draft law increasing public wages lies on a triad of conflicting opinions. The coalition of private and public school teachers and public sector employees who stress that there will be no backing down on their demands.
The cabinet has meanwhile failed to refer the decision to parliament until proper funding resources are found, while the Economic Committees have been lobbying against the raise, warning that it would push the economy into bankruptcy if passed.
In September, the cabinet approved the new salaries scale for public employees, ending a long dispute that has prompted the SCC to hold several sit-ins and strikes.
The wages increase will be retroactive from July 1, 2012, but the salary adjustments would be paid in installments over a period of five years, although funding resources to cover the costs are still not clear.
The government recently discussed plans to boost the treasury’s revenue to cover the expenses of the salaries boost through several proposals, including the implementation of a hike on taxes on land parcels, sea properties and others.
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