Wage Hike Dispute Ongoing as Nahhas Proposes 4th Plan to Shura Council
Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas is formulating a new wage plan to propose before the Shura Council before submitting it to a vote at the cabinet, As Safir newspaper reported on Friday.
Nahhas’ step might create a new dispute between the cabinet members as some might consider that he is bypassing the government by heading to the Shura Council directly, while others consider that this step falls in line with his constitutional jurisdictions.
The Shura Council turned down last week the labor minister’s wage hike plan, however, the Council’s verdict is non-binging.
The proposal calls for raising the minimum wage to LL868,000 – a sum that includes a LL236,000 transportation allowance. It also gives an 18 percent raise for employees earning less than LL1.5 million and a 10 percent increase for salaries between LL1.5 million and LL2.5 million.
“The Labor Minister insists on proposing the plan to the cabinet in a legal formula,” sources close to Nahhas told As Safir daily.
The sources noted if the Shura Council approves the new plan proposed by Nahhas, then “he will propose his plan before the cabinet in order to issue a decree…”
However, if the Shura Council turns down Nahhas’ new plan, he will continue on proposing plans until it approves it.
The sources said that the new plan suggest a 100% increase on the first bracket under LL1 million and 25% on the second bracket above LL1 million, where LL200,000 will be deducted from the wages due to the raise given in 2008, which indicates that the new minimum wage will be LL800,000.
Head of the Shura Council Judge Shukri Sader told As Safir that he received Nahhas’ new proposal on Thursday, refusing to disclose its content.
“We realize that the people can no longer stand the issue … We will swiftly examine (Nahhas’ plan)… If it took into account the remarks made by the Shura Council then we will not have to turn it down,” Sader told the daily.
However, the Economic Committees insist on their agreement with the General Labor Confederation, which had failed to gain enough support among the cabinet members.
Head of GLC Ghassan Ghosn urged the cabinet to approve the deal held with the Economic Committees.
“The wages farce is ongoing… We demand the cabinet to approve the agreement held with the Economic Committees during the upcoming session where it becomes binding,” Ghosn told As Safir.
Under the deal, the minimum wage would increase to LL675,000 – a sum that excludes the transportation allowance.
Nahhas reiterated on Thursday his refusal to sign the wage agreement because he deemed it as illegal.
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