Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati held a series of ministerial meetings this morning, Wednesday, at the Grand Serail, during which the conditions of the ministries and their affairs were discussed along with preparations for tomorrow's Cabinet session. In this context, Mikati met with Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib, Communications Minister George Karam, and Information Minister Ziad al-Makari. He also met with Minister of Labor Mustafa Bayram in the presence of former Minister and Advisor to the Prime Minister Nicolas Nahhas, and the Secretary-General of the Cabinet, Judge Mahmoud Makyia, where they discussed the issue of salary increases for the public sector.
In another meeting, Mikati received former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Elie Ferzli.
Mikati also welcomed a delegation from the General Labor Union headed by Bashara Asmar, who stated after the meeting: "We discussed with the Prime Minister the reality of the public sector, which is in a very bad condition, and the necessity for the increases, whether termed incentives or salaries or anything else, to be distributed fairly among all components of the public sector, including the public administration, the military, retirees, independent institutions, social security, Tele Liban, municipalities, and government hospitals, to ensure equitable distribution. We informed His Excellency that the allocated amounts have increased from 2,000 billion Lebanese pounds per month to 2,300 billion, which would ensure some fairness in distribution."
He added: "We also discussed the current situation in the south regarding the massive displacement occurring, and we saluted our people in the south for their steadfastness in the face of Israeli aggression and the need to provide all forms of support for the displaced. We also praised those who remain steadfast in their land and their honorable resistance. We raised the issue of the real estate and utility departments, stressing the need to reopen them and bring all employees back so they can operate correctly, pending prosecution and the issuance of rulings, as it is unreasonable to issue judgments on employees before their trials."
He continued: "We presented the situation at the Tripoli Port and the necessity of facilitating access to and from it, in addition to the issue of the manufacturing area at the Rashid Karami International Exhibition, and the need to reopen it. Finally, we requested that His Excellency expedite the reform laws, as their issuance would greatly ease matters for the Lebanese in this phase by alleviating financial and economic pressures."
