Premier Najib Miqati’s sources have shrugged off rumors that he would quit, telling Beirut dailies on Monday that the government will continue to work after it succeeded in guaranteeing stability.

“All the information (about the resignation) is just wishes and attempts to create a tumult,” the sources said.

The government’s measures to tackle Lebanon’s offshore oil wealth are expected to be the focus of Monday’s parliament session, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

It said that Speaker Nabih Berri is eager to get this issue underway, adding that Lebanon’s contacts over the demarcation of the Lebanese-Cypriot maritime border will also be addressed.

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas was on Friday drafting the decree of wage hikes approved by the cabinet earlier in the week despite opposition by the General Labor Confederation and the Economic Committees.

Nahhas told As Safir daily he was obliged in accordance with the law to prepare the decree as called for by the government although the ministers of the Change and Reform bloc rejected it.

Ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun have expressed outrage at a deal reached to raise wages and increase benefits, saying the agreement was only a “tranquilizer.”

The ministers withdrew from the cabinet session held at the Grand Serail on Tuesday to express their reservations about the deal that did not meet the aspirations of the General Labor Confederation as well.

The General Labor Confederation on Tuesday decided to suspend the strike that was scheduled tomorrow, expressing reservations over the Cabinet's decision along with the Economic committees.

“PM Miqati decided to increase 200,000L.L on the wages ranging from 500,000 and 1 million, and to increase 300,000 L.L on wages ranging from 1 million to 1.5 million as well as increase social services.” Information Minister Walid Daouk stated.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged officials not to issue a final judgment on the 2012 draft state budget because he said it could be amended during discussions at the cabinet or parliament.

Berri told As Safir daily published Monday that the draft has some positive and negative aspects. Among the negative articles is a proposed 2 percent hike in Value Added Tax. VAT currently stands at 10 percent.

The General Labor Confederation was on Monday gearing up for a strike that it plans to hold later in the week as its demand for more than doubling the minimum wage is not likely to be approved by the government and business leaders.

GLC President Ghassan Ghosn told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that labor unions would hold the nationwide strike on Wednesday if its calls for increasing wages to LL1,250,000 did not receive any support.

Speaker Nabih Berri has denied that he informed Premier Najib Miqati about the rejection of Hizbullah and Amal to fund the international tribunal, saying the cabinet would have a say on the issue when the draft state budget is discussed.

Berri’s visitors quoted him as saying that as long as the funding is mentioned in the 2012 budget, the cabinet would discuss the issue and the parliamentary majority would vote on it.

Speaker Nabih Berri will likely propose a solution to the wage dispute between business leaders and the General Labor Confederation if both parties weren’t able to reach an agreement by Tuesday, his visitors said.

Premier Najib Miqati held talks with Berri on Saturday in what was seen as a last-ditch effort and a race against time to solve the wage crisis ahead of Wednesday’s strike planned by the GLC.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday that the will to hold dialogue in Lebanon will always defeat security instability.

He said: “Despite the tensions, Lebanon is witnessing a period of monetary and security stability.”