REPORT: MPs approve tax hike to fund pay scale

Lebanese MPs approved on Wednesday taxes on seaside properties that were built on public land during a legislative session dedicated to continue discussions over the funding of the pay scale.

 

“This matter was supposed to have been solved 20 years ago,” said Prime Minister Saad Hariri, blaming the government for its failure to deal with this issue.

 

The parliament also imposed an amount of 5000 ​LBP on non-Lebanese passengers upon their entry into Lebanon.

Also, Article 11 canceled fees on economy travel tickets and kept the fees at their value of 60,000 ​LBP.

 

The parliament also approved a 7% tax on banks' profits.​

 

For his part, Kataeb party leader MP Nadim Gemayel said that he objects the imposing taxes without an economic plan, adding that approving the new tax hike would be “a blow for Lebanon’s middle class.”

 

“These kinds of taxes are usual, but the question remains if these revenues are going to enter the treasury or someplace else,” Speaker Nabih Berri said.

 

Parliament on Tuesday approved the much-awaited public sector's salary hike bill.