Wage Dispute Lingers as Miqati Expresses Readiness to Find ‘Appropriate Solution’

The Economic Committees are scheduled to hold a press conference on Thursday to reject the government’s wage boost and call for dialogue despite an announcement by Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami that the cabinet would stick to its salary package.

Premier Najib Miqati said during a cabinet session held at the Grand Serail on Wednesday that the government needed more time to consider the labor unions’ demands.

“No government is capable of meeting the demands in a single decision,” he said, adding that the cabinet would deal first with issues that are top priority.

He stressed that labor unions and the Economic Committees, that include top bankers and business leaders, should be aware that the government is ready to cooperate with them to find the “appropriate solution” to controversial issues.

He made his remarks after the General Labor Confederation demanded to increase wages of workers earning more than LL1.8 million.

The government has raised the monthly minimum wage to LL700,000 from LL500,000. It also made a LL200,000 wage boost to those earning less than LL1 million. Furthermore, it agreed to raise by LL300,000 the salaries of workers who earn between LL1 million and LL1.8 million.

The GLC has lamented the decision not to give a raise to those earning more than LL1.8 million, vowing to pressure the cabinet into reviewing its decision.

The raise has also angered the Economic Committees that have expressed fears that companies would have to lay off workers or even shut down their businesses.

Despite the anger expressed by both sides, Karami told reporters following the cabinet session that the government would not introduce changes to its decision.