The Lebanese Cabinet has approved salary increases for employees in the public and private sectors, as well as for retirees, during a government session held to discuss the issue of these increases amidst tensions after security forces used tear gas against protesters trying to remove barbed wire in the vicinity.
The minimum wage in the private sector was raised to 9 million Lebanese pounds, and the transportation allowance was set at 250,000 pounds. The official daily minimum wage was established at 400,000 Lebanese pounds, and the cost of living increase was set to 4,500,000 pounds. Public sector salaries were raised by four times, in addition to the two salaries previously approved, provided that employees attend 14 days in a month. The transportation allowance for public sector employees was raised to 450,000 pounds, and attendance should not exceed 18 days monthly.
Information Minister in the caretaker government, Ziad Al-Makari, announced during the reading of the Cabinet's decisions that "it was approved to continue granting the Ministry of Health 35 million dollars from special drawing rights."
Regarding municipal elections, he pointed out that "Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi will present his proposals in the next session for new dates for the municipal elections." He noted that "the Cabinet discussed the issue of 'Lebanon Post' and decided either to conduct a new tender or for the state to take over this sector, with Communications Minister Johnny Al-Qaram overseeing the matter."
The Minister of Labor in the caretaker government, Mustafa Bayram, announced that he will work on raising the transportation allowance for the private sector from 250,000 Lebanese pounds to 450,000 pounds, similar to the public sector. He also pointed out that educational grants have been tripled, and family compensation has also been increased.
The Cabinet met today, Tuesday, in the Grand Serail, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati. On the agenda was the funding of municipal elections, which has likely become "a thing of the past," as well as the correction of salaries for public sector workers and retirees, and the discussion on issuing new currency denominations.
At the beginning of the session, Prime Minister Najib Mikati stated, "You have certainly followed what happened in the Parliament," mentioning that the government is concerned with securing the necessary funding for the municipal and elective elections, based on a study prepared by the Minister of Finance for the government to grant a cash advance to conduct these elections. He added that after the parliamentary extension of the term of municipal and elective councils, "we can take our time in discussing this matter to hold the municipal elections as quickly as required." He expressed hope that the Interior Minister would conduct meetings with governors, deputy governors, security leaders, judges, and teachers to present a study with the new proposed dates and costs to be presented in the next Cabinet session for approval.
He addressed the protest movements that occurred concurrently with the Cabinet meeting, affirming the legitimacy of the demands and that the government will work on following them up.
