Miqati: Approval of Wage Hike ‘Democratic Expression’ but ‘Political Message’ was Conveyed
Prime Minister Najib Miqati said that the approval of the majority of cabinet members on Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ wage proposal was “a democratic expression,” but stressed it was a “political” stance aimed at showing support to a “political ally.”
“No one won and no one lost. I respect democracy and we’ll see how this decision will be applied,” Miqati told An Nahar daily on Thursday.
The new cabinet decision calls for raising the minimum wage to LL868,000 from the current LL500,000 – a sum that includes a LL236,000 transportation allowance.
Workers earning less than LL1.5 million receive an 18 percent increase while salaries between LL1.5 million and LL2.5 million receive an additional 10 percent on the second salary bracket. Wages above LL2.5 million will not earn an additional increase.
The premier said that he was seeking a consensus between the Economic Committees and the General Labor Confederation, noting that he “reached an agreement that wasn’t adopted by the cabinet.”
Miqati had previously made another proposal and was approved by the cabinet on Dec. 7. That suggestion states that the minimum wage should be increased by LL100,000 to LL600,000, salaries under LL1 million by 30 percent up to a LL200,000 increase, and salaries above LL1 million by a 20 percent increase up to LL275,000.
However, the PM agreed with the Economic Committees and the GLC on fixing the minimum wage rate at LL675,000 before the cabinet session at Baabda Palace on Wednesday.
Despite the agreement between the three parties, Nahhas pushed his own proposal on the table of the cabinet which approved it after receiving the vote of 15 ministers.
“I don’t know if the Shura Council would approve (Nahhas’ wage plan),” Miqati said.
He warned that the repercussions of Nahhas’ wage hike plan will be “enormous, and will hurt the national economy.”
“Every minister who voted in favor of this project will be held responsible,” Miqati stressed in remarks published in As Safir daily on Thursday.
He added: “What happened was clear, I’ve received the message and I accept it… The March 8 forces wanted to express solidarity with (Free Patriotic Movement leader MP) Michel Aoun.”
Nahhas is a minister loyal to Aoun and the approval of his decision by Hizbullah and Amal ministers was seen as a victory to the FPM chief.
Miqati added that the government’s decision will cause a heavy burden on the state, while the Economic Committees will have to deal with “financial burdens” they can’t tolerate.
Asked if the Shura Council will turn down the new wage hike plan, Miqati said: “I don’t know, but the Shura Council had cleared a point that if the workers and the employees agreed, the government can’t interfere in their settlement.”
The premier didn’t attend a concert held by Majida al-Roumi at the Baabda Palace for Christmas and left soon after the cabinet session ended.
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