Nahhas: My reform plan aims to please workers and employers

Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas said that the cabinet took the decision to adjust the wage raise agreement and in spite of his opposition the settlement is being drafted.

“The economic committees who are not pleased with the agreement have the right to take the appropriate legal measures”, Nahhas told Voice of Lebanon radio station.

Nahhas added that before the price index committee held its most recent meeting and after looking into the budget draft law, the General Labor Confederation (GLC) decided to boycott the session to oppose the increase in taxes.

“Negotiations outside the cabinet intensified to find a suitable solution for the strike rather than the economic and social problems. The outcome was a decree that did not satisfy either the employers or the Labor Ministry”, Nahhas said.

Nahhas stressed that his reform plan aims at adding transportation fees to the salary so that the employees would be able to take advantage of the end-of-service benefits.

“Social benefits are improving and medical care will be made comprehensive through a new tax system imposed on profits and interests of real-estate sales sparing economic institutions this burden”, Nahhas added.  

Speaking on the issue of funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Nahhas said: “I will back to the stance taken by the Free Patriotic Movement because I am convinced that we should know how to use large sums of money put at our disposal.”