Wages row emerges again: economic bodies approve, GLC rejects

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas described the cabinet decision on wage adjustment on Thursday as “a continuation of the policy of obstructing changes,” adding that the decision includes many constitutional violations.     

Nahhas told LBCI that “the approved plan is not better than the one he put forth,” adding that he will resort to the same measures adopted in the previous plan to determine the reaction of the Shura Council and the GLC.   

 In turn, the GLC voiced discontentment over the wage increase as GLC Head Ghassan Ghosn described it as “humiliating”.    

Ghosn confirmed that the GLC will stage strikes “to achieve what has not been achieved.”    

In turn, employers welcomed the decision on wage increase and President of Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Mohamed Choucair told LBCI “there are no winners or losers in the cabinet decision.”     

Cabinet approved a wage increase decree on Wednesday, hiking the minimum wage to LL600,000, salaries under LL1 million by 30%  and salaries above LL1 million by 20 %.