Miqati to Youth: Our Government Has Never Wavered in Combating Daily Concerns
Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Friday all sides to tackle economic files with the same responsibility as they do national ones.
He said before a Azm Youth meeting in Tripoli: “The government has never wavered in combating daily concerns that have accumulated over the years due to past negligence.”
“These concerns are now threatening social stability,” he warned.
The premier noted that the cabinet approved the new wages scale “that has been long overdue”.
Discussions are still underway among the ministers to find the means to fund the new wages, said Miqati.
Addressing the youth, he said: “You have an important role to build a stable and secure future for Lebanon.”
“You have no need to fear for your future as long as you abandon your sectarian insecurities,” he added.
“You have no need to fear for your country if you are loyal to the state instead of a sectarian or political leader,” he stressed.
“You should not fear foreign conflicts if you are united and shunned these disputes,” Miqati stated.
The premier had said on Thursday that the Syndicate Coordination Committee has the right to stage a strike calling for their demands to be met over the new wages scale.
He noted however: “We will not jeopardize the stability of our monetary system.”
“The new wages scale was approved by cabinet. We are not stalling in this matter,” he stressed.
The SCC held a strike on Thursday after crunch talks at the cabinet on Wednesday failed to reach consensus over finding the appropriate resources for funding the new wages scale for public employees.
In September, the cabinet approved the new salaries scale for public employees, ending a long dispute that has prompted the SCC to hold several sit-ins and strikes.
The wages increase will be retroactive from July 1, 2012, but the salary adjustments would be paid in installments over a period of five years, although funding resources to cover the costs are still not clear.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://cdn.naharnet.com/stories/en/57696 |