Jumblat Questions Pay Raise for Ministers, MPs: Their Salaries Must be Cut in Half to Set an Example to People
Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Monday the “shameful” proposal to raise the salaries of presidents, ministers, and lawmakers, saying that such a suggestions is unacceptable in light of the difficult financial situation in the country.
He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Their salaries should not be raised, but cut in half to set a good example to the people.”
The PSP has long stood by the demands of the syndicate and labor authorities in their struggle for a new wage scale, he added.
It will support their efforts in order to provide the necessary funds to cover the expenses of the new wage scale in order to prevent it from becoming an “illusory” scale that drives the country towards more financial difficulties, he continued.
Furthermore, Jumblat lamented the “poor productivity” in most public sector jobs, “which makes any wage hike linked to an increase in work hours in order to increase productivity.”
The MP then made a number of proposals to resolve the poor financial situation, such as launching “serious administrative reform that can be transformed into a continuous development operation.”
He demanded the restructuring of administrations in a manner that would eliminate or merge some public institutions.
The PSP leader also suggested revitalizing the activity of the administrative judiciary and all auditing institutions.
In addition, all cases of tax evasion, especially the evasion of paying the Value Added Tax, must be monitored and dealt with, he continued.
Easing the poor financial situation can also be resolved through tackling construction violations, raising taxes on alcohol, tobacco, and cigarettes, and monitoring the squandering of funds at customs offices, Casino du Liban and other public institutions.
“The current situation cannot go on and it demands a series of bold and complementary measures,” said Jumblat.
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