Press Digest for Monday April 14, 2014

4^min

The following are summaries of today's major stories published in the Arabic press. LBCI does not edit press digest articles for content, giving English-language readers insight into the various views expressed in newspapers across the Arab world.

MP Hamadeh says Joint Parliamentary Committees' reports 'inaccurate'

Sources told An-Nahar daily on Monday that consultations held yesterday between Lebanese parliamentary blocs tackled the two reports of the Joint Parliamentary Committees concerning the series of ranks and salaries.

In this regard, MP Marwan Hamadeh told the newspaper that "the reports weren't accurate nor transparent," adding that talks are set to be held today between parliamentary blocs in order to endorse a "balanced" Pay Scale.

PSP leader MP Jumblatt calls for reform, anti-corruption measures to endorse Pay Scale

National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt voiced on Monday his refusal to the endorsement of the Pay Scale without any guarantees to combat corruption and reform the Lebanese administrations.

In an interview with As-Safir daily, MP Jumblatt said the failure to agree on reform measures and ensure guaranteed revenues would drag the country into an economic disaster.

"The tax on banks is part of the revenues that should be studied," he said, adding however that this tax or other kinds of taxes are "useless" unless measures are taken to fight widespread corruption in all administrations.

“We waited for a long time. Thus, we can have a little more patience to consolidate the wage scale and protect the economy,” Jumblatt said.

Father Khadra underscores need to save Lebanese labor force

Father Tony Khadra, the founder of Labora- a non-governmental organization- has launched an appeal to save the Lebanese labor force whose unemployment rate now exceeds 440 thousand citizens.

Father Khadra also told Al-Joumhouria daily that this number equals that of the Syrian labor force looking for jobs in Lebanon.

"Unfortunately, Syrians have a greater chance of being employed since their salaries are much lower than the Lebanese," he added.

Speaker Berri seeks to reassure PSP leader Jumblat over Pay Scale

Speaker Nabih Berri sought to reassure National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt who has expressed fears over the state's failure to fund a new wage scale deliberated by lawmakers.

"Several items in the Pay Scale draft law will reassure MP Jumblatt in regards to guaranteeing revenues and fighting corruption," Speaker Berri said.

"Berri refuses that deliberations to be held by the general authority on Tuesday be confidential," guests of Speaker Berri told As-Safir newspaper on Monday.

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