At the forefront of current issues is the ongoing strike by public sector employees, which has entered its sixth week, causing complete paralysis in public institutions, disrupting state affairs, and hindering citizens' interests, without finding a fundamental solution to the employees' demands. This issue has remained a topic of debate, shifting from one ministerial committee meeting to another, as witnessed yesterday during the meeting held at the Grand Serail, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. This meeting ended with the scheduling of another committee meeting for Wednesday to discuss a series of recommendations aimed at leading this issue to positive conclusions that satisfy employees.
It has been reported that public sector employees will receive, according to the initial proposal, a salary and a bonus equivalent to their salary, along with a transportation allowance of 95,000 Lira and a daily productivity payment ranging between 150,000 Lira and 300,000 Lira for attending at least three days a week. The President of the Public Administration Employees Association, Nawal Nasr, stated that "the increase being discussed is a form of assistance, with 85% of employees receiving two million Lira from it, along with what is called a motivational salary, which is essentially part of the transportation allowance." She indicated that "employees who have lost 95% of their salaries now receive in this assistance an additional 2 to 5%, and half of the transportation allowance for just two months."
Nasr emphasized the rejection of the approach to public revenue and the issue of protecting state property beneficiaries from smuggling, stating, "We refuse to use part of the people's money for the people." She reiterated that "the strike will continue until its causes are removed or until we sense seriousness in addressing these causes, which is not available so far."
The issue is complex. According to financial sources for "Al-Jumhuriya," "the situation is very complicated. On one hand, there are legitimate demands from employees amid a severe crisis, and on the other hand, there is a deteriorating condition of the state's treasury and its inability to provide the required financial amounts, particularly with the absence of revenue collection." Consequently, even a middle ground solution is unattainable, as it neither satisfies employees nor allows the treasury to meet its obligations.
According to responsible political sources for "Al-Jumhuriya," the most concerning aspect is that the financial shortfall in the state's treasury and the lack of revenues could manifest in the worst ways in the near future, not only in terms of failing to secure salaries for public sector employees but also in terms of not securing salaries for security forces and military personnel, particularly the army. If this occurs, it will open the door to significant negative repercussions. With the Army Day approaching in less than a week, can we truly give a holiday gift to military personnel by failing to provide their salaries?
