Nahhas Said he Received Answers to Salary Recommendations
Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas confirmed on Friday that he received the answers of the Economic Committees and the Syndicate Coordination Committee on his recommendations on the wage boost.
He told LBCI TV station that the Syndicate Coordination Committee was more cooperative.
In remarks to As Safir daily, Nahhas said he was waiting for the answers of all parties who participated in the price index committee meetings on his recommendations on wage increases.
“The answers should be written and explicit in accepting or rejecting every point” mentioned in the recommendations that were referred to the cabinet, he said.
“It is unacceptable after more than 40 hours of meetings at the price index committee and with all that I have suggested to end up in a situation where we are unable to know the stance of each side,” the minister said.
“Those who give us their responses will prove they are serious,” Nahhas said, adding “let those who refuse to answer provide alternative solutions.”
Last week, the Shura Council turned down a cabinet decision to increase wages.
The cabinet had agreed to raise the minimum wage to LL700,000 from LL500,000. It also raised by LL200,000 the salaries of those earning under LL1 million. Workers whose wages range between LL1 million and LL1.8 million would get LL300,000, according to the cabinet decision.
The Shura Council’s rejection of the government’s decision renewed the talks at the price index committee, which includes representatives of the Economic Committees and the General Labor Confederation.
Nahhas made new recommendations to resolve the bickering between the two sides. The Economic Committees have rejected the wage boost saying such a move would lead to inflation and force businesses to shut down.
According to As Safir daily, they held a meeting on Thursday, renewing their initial stance of restarting dialogue at the price index committee with the attendance of all its members, including representatives of labor unions.
As for the GLC, it is calling for including workers who earn more than LL1.8 million in any decision to increase salaries.
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