Miqati: New Wages Scale Dispute Cannot Be Resolved through Escalation
Prime Minister Najib Miqati stated on Thursday that the dispute over the new wages scale should be resolved through calm discussions.
He said: “The dispute cannot be settled through negativity and escalation.”
Calm discussions should be held over the best means to fund the new salaries while maintaining the rights of the public sector employees and preserving the financial balance in Lebanon, he added.
Wednesday's cabinet session witnessed “in depth” discussions over the new wages scale, monetary situation, and possible negative impact of the scale, he revealed.
“An agreement was reached that the issue needs further assessment and contacts with financial, local, and international institutions,” remarked Miqati.
“We understand the Syndicate Coordination Committee's protests and the demands of the workers, but we are ultimately responsible for maintaining monetary stability,” he stressed.
“We cannot take risks by approving hasty decisions that harm the economy,” declared the premier.
“We had relayed this position to the concerned officials at the Syndicate Coordination Committee at the beginning of the crisis,” he said.
Miqati stressed the need to keep this issue away from political meddling “because we are all concerned with protecting our country.”
The case will be discussed during the next cabinet session in a hope that it will be resolved and referred to parliament for its approval, he added.
The Syndicate Coordination Committee staged a nationwide strike on Thursday to protest the cabinet's failure on Wednesday to refer the controversial new wages scale to the parliament for approval.
The cabinet convened at the Baabda Palace on Wednesday during a session attended by Central Bank Governor Riyad Salameh who sought to stall the referral of the bill until the government finds the appropriate funding resources to boost the new salaries scale.
“We take responsibility for strikes but we will not approve a decision that might bring down (the financial situation) in the country,” Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi told al-Joumhouria newspaper.
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