The "National Bloc" has proposed to the government several steps to confront the danger of total economic collapse and the rising levels of unemployment and poverty.
The National News Agency reported that the National Bloc considered in a statement today that the authority of power-sharing makes arbitrary decisions without regard to their repercussions, noting that the necessary general lockdown has significant economic consequences. They pointed out that it could have been accompanied by measures to avoid total economic collapse and increased unemployment, and hence poverty. The statement suggested that the government implement some practical steps regarding taxes, fees, combating unemployment, and banking measures.
In the area of taxes and fees, the statement proposed a complete waiver of penalties for declaring value-added tax and installment payments due for the fourth quarter of 2019 and for the years 2020 and 2021, in equal monthly installments over five years added to the quarterly dues. The statement also called for the repeal of Decision No. 893/1 issued by the Ministry of Finance on December 21, 2020, which obliges importers to register the invoice value based on the dollar exchange rate in the black market, as well as freezing other taxes such as income tax and property tax and allowing for their installments over 48 months with exemption from penalties.
Additionally, the statement suggested installment plans for municipal fees for citizens and all economic sectors for the years 2020 and 2021 without penalties and exempting materials related to the rebuilding and repair of damages caused to properties of all rights holders due to the port explosion on August 4 from fees and taxes, which were overlooked by Law No. 194/2020 aimed at protecting areas affected by the Beirut port explosion.
The statement also proposed support and a 50 percent reduction of public service fees such as electricity, water, and telephone, as well as property tax for poor families for one year and creating a mechanism to reduce commercial and non-commercial rents by agreement between landlords and tenants for the years 2020 and 2021.
Regarding combating unemployment, the National Bloc’s statement suggested creating an unemployment fund to assist jobless individuals, providing temporary assistance that lasts throughout the lockdown period for affected workers, and exempting from penalties owed to the National Social Security Fund for the years 2020 and 2021 with leniency in paying dues by allowing installments over 48 months added to the dues owed at that time.
The statement also proposed incentivizing employment in institutions, companies, and associations by having the state pay its dues to the National Social Security Fund for the years 2020 and 2021, establishing a mechanism to resolve labor disputes arising from bankruptcy or wage reductions due to the lockdown amicably, and implementing a flexible work hours system until the crisis ends, which includes protection for workers’ rights regarding end-of-service benefits and vacations.
As for the National Bloc's proposals for banking measures, they suggested establishing a mechanism, after banks raise their capital, to reactivate banking activity by providing financial facilities and loans to Lebanese institutions. They called for an immediate reduction of interest rates on loans for institutions and individuals to 3 percent, in addition to restructuring overdue loans for institutions and individuals, ensuring that they are paid in Lebanese pounds at the exchange rate at the time contracts were made.
In conclusion, the bloc called on the government to fulfill its obligations to burdened citizens and adopt these measures to avoid total collapse.
