Miqati Reportedly Offered Nahhas 5 Alternatives as Transportation Allowance Remains at Standstill
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
The cabinet remained deadlock on Wednesday as Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas seem to hold onto their stances over controversial issues.
“The issue is at a standstill as the premier’s stances are clear and he won’t back down, rumors on his resignation are untrue,” Miqati’s sources told An Nahar newspaper.
The sources noted that the cabinet should agree on a mechanism to organize its work to resolve the crisis.
The premier and the ministers of MP Michel Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement have bickered over Miqati’s decision to appoint top civil servants in state posts reserved for Christians without consulting them.
Their dispute worsened last week after Miqati said ministers who don’t want to abide by the cabinet’s decision should resign. But Aoun slammed the premier, calling on him to quit.
According to the daily, Nahhas signed the transportation decree by modifying some of its articles, but the minister denied to OTV the report.
The labor minister’s sources told As Safir newspaper that he prepared a transportation allowance draft law to propose to the cabinet.
“He will not sign the decree (approved by the cabinet) because it’s illegal, this issue is settled,” they added.
In January, the cabinet approved a wage hike decree while the transportation and education allowances remain the contention point as Nahhas was tasked by the government to prepare a draft law and refer it to the parliament for adoption, allowing the government to set the minimum rates for transportation and education allowances, thus “legalizing” them.
However, An Nahar newspaper reported that Miqati proposed five options before Nahhas, the first is to sign the transportation and education allowances thus averting a crisis, or travel abroad so that caretaker labor minister Nicolas Fattoush signs them.
The third option according the daily is Nahhas’ approval to change portfolios, or he should submit his resignation.
Miqati threatened that if Nahhas refuses any of these options he will submit his resignation as head of the cabinet.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper said that the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc in Rabieh, headed by Aoun, witnessed a heated debate between the members as some criticized Nahhas’ performance.
Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud warned during the meeting against Nahhas’ refusal to abide by the cabinet and sign the transportation allowance decree, accusing him of encouraging strife between the employees and employers, sources told the daily.
An Nahar newspaper said that al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc might withdraw confidence from the labor minister, if he insists on his stances, during next Wednesday’s parliamentary session.
The daily said that the National Struggle Front parliamentary bloc of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, will voice its support to the opposition and Miqati if Nahhas holds onto his positions.
15 February 2012, 13:05
01
The best decision in this case would be for Mikati to resign. Enough of this Harirism school in the running of state politics.
15 February 2012, 13:45
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The ridiculous part is the strife started because of nominations, but now business owners (Mikati/Abboud) are using it as a argument to push the signature of the transportation allowance which benefits business owners.
On the other hand, Nahas has prepared a draft law to be submitted to parliament. Why isn't it submitted? this minister is trying to do his jobright god damnit and some smart asses think they can do better jobs by writing two line laws (De Freije/Mikati).
15 February 2012, 16:38
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But Hezbollah ministers also voted late last month against Nahass bill in favor of Mikati's, oh right I forgot they are the business owners of an Iranian styled and funded Islamic republic franchise but for some reason they don't pay taxes. Besides most of the cabinet Nahass belongs to including M8's MPs from Amal, Hezballah, Tashnag, Marada, Baath, SSNP, Arslan and even a coupe of Aoun's do not agree with Nahass that the transportation decree is illegal, they voted for the bill the way it was remember. If he thinks they are all conspirators doing illegal things why stay in this cabinet?
16 February 2012, 02:11
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Nahas is working hard. he developed a law to be submitted to parliament as was requested from him. why isn't it submitted for voting? why does the council of ministers refuse to do things differently to break an economic deadlock we all live in...
Stop answering to the great work Nahas in doing by pointing fingers to Hezbollah, Amal or Jumblat or whomever in this bloody republic. We are ruled my morons that have been abound for decades including all M14 and M8 rulers.
Charbel Nahas is not a politician, he never was...We are lucky to have someone that actually does his job.
Since taking office in the ministry of telecom, Nahas launched 3G and the national fiber network deployment as well as the premise of the telecom framework that will put Lebanon as the forefront of the sector's regulation in light of the evolutions it is going through
16 February 2012, 02:12
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Since taking office in the ministry of labor (the ministry whose sole job until now has been to sign work permits for foreigners): Charbel Nahas is refusing to sign work permits for male foreigners to prevent local workforce, he allowed foreign husbands of Lebanese women to work in Lebanon (a first step towards equality between male and female), He signed an agreement with the Ministry of Labor of the Philippines that sets a much needed human framework that protects the right of household domestic help. But most importantly, Nahas has tried to break the economic deadlock from one end by raising salaries to a level corresponding to the price increases. The salary that was first voter (868,000) was brought down to 675,000 by the workers union which we all know is politicized and report to Nabih Berry (therefore has not representative value whatsoever).
16 February 2012, 02:12
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And yes Nahas refused to sign a law not because he deems it illegal. The constitutional council deems it illegal and business owners themselves requested its cancellation by the constitutional council. To clause on the topic only 50% of Lebanese get this allowance which was not created to cover transportation costs, but to provide workers with a financial increase that is not counted as salary and therefore save business owners significant contributions to social security.
16 February 2012, 02:12
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4/4
Why he stays in cabinet? it is simple he still hopes he can make a change but he is not counting on any of the morons in cabinet. he is counting on us to move and say.
"WE ARE FED UP OF HAVING A SUB-STANDARD STATE, WE ARE FED UP OF BEING TOLD THAT ORDER AND LAW ARE TOO GOOD FOR US, WE ARE FED UP OF HAVING TO TRAVEL TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING, WE ARE FED UP OF SECTARIANISM, WE ARE FED UP OF HAVING TO BEG AT THE DOOR OF POLITICAL MILLIONAIRES, WE ARE FED UP...AND WE CAN CHANGE BY OUR OWN WILL, BY BELIEVING THAT CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.
So please, before using cliches and empty slogans as you did, make sure you you learn who is working with your benefit in mind and who is just making you survive...so you can serve his purpose longer
15 February 2012, 13:47
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It is time we understand public affairs are managed through hard work ...not empty slogans
15 February 2012, 13:47
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It is time we understand public affairs are managed through hard work ...not empty slogans
15 February 2012, 18:29
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Sob7an Allah, everytime there is a problem, it is either Aoun or one of his ministers are involved.
Hilo 3ana kilkon ba2a no matter who u are..u want personal gains, go do it on your own time and not ours.
16 February 2012, 02:15
00
So G if we get you right, if there is disagreement in the council of ministers it is definitely bad? You should be thankful that someone if trying to move things. We live in a country with 40% poverty is that normal? How is Charbel Nahas not doing his job to resolve it?
