“Final Warning”: The Government Faces a Choice Between Response and Complete Paralysis!

Media sources reported that the Gathering of Leagues for Public Sector Employees, including teachers, civil and military retirees, carried out a comprehensive strike today in various ministries, where they gathered to express their demands in light of the difficult economic conditions they face.

The Gathering affirmed that the living crisis is increasing pressure on Lebanese citizens, especially military and civil retirees, permanent and contracted employees, and all those with limited incomes. They pointed out that prices have doubled in Lebanese pounds and US dollars, and that the slight increases in salaries and pensions, in addition to the various bonuses (“from productivity, grant, social assistance, and diligence allowance”), are no longer sufficient, as they do not exceed 20% of the value of 2019, noting that the family allowance does not exceed three US dollars per month for the wife and five children.

The Gathering explained that Law No. 2017/46 related to the salary scale contributed to the economic and financial crisis, considering that the real reasons lie in rampant corruption, including tax evasion (“of various kinds”), and the evasion of companies, institutions, banks, and exchange institutions from paying real taxes, in addition to commissions in sectors such as electricity, fuel, telephone, works, and rented buildings, the seizure of the remaining marine and river properties, the “quiet” seizure of common and state properties, the embezzlement of most of the international donations and aid, and the exorbitant salaries of some members of official bodies.

The Gathering also pointed to other practices that contributed to the crisis, such as smuggling money abroad and seizing depositors’ funds, expressing the discontent of employees who were waiting for an increase in their salaries, only to be surprised by new deductions, such as raising the percentage of retirement deductions from 6 to 8%, through Article 3, which was included in a law that has nothing to do with employees. The Gathering demanded that the percentage approved for retirement deductions be returned to 6%.

The Gathering drew attention to the fact that retirement deductions are still included within the revenues of the state budget, and are therefore considered to be from the resources of the treasury that feed the money supply. They stressed that these deductions are financial liabilities aimed at securing the rights of employees upon termination of their service, in accordance with laws and regulations.

It stressed the importance of establishing the Independent Pension Fund, which is stipulated in Article 57 of Legislative Decree No. 47 dated 6/29/1983 (“Retirement and Dismissal from Service System”), but has not yet been established, despite the passage of more than 42 years since the issuance of this article.

The Gathering affirmed that the solution lies in approving a new salary scale that meets the aspirations of employees and retirees, and restores the purchasing power of salaries and pensions.

It demanded that salaries and pensions be raised to reach a minimum of 50% of salaries before 2019, no later than the end of January 2026, with the remaining 50% to be paid in installments at a rate of 10% every six months.

It stressed the need to do justice to retirees who have been retired since 2019 in their compensation and financial dues for years of service exceeding forty years.

It also called for increasing the allocations of social security funds for public sector employees, raising the family allowance in proportion to the cumulative annual inflation rate, in implementation of the text of Article Seven of Law No. 717 dated 11/5/1998, canceling the recent increase in the percentage of retirement deductions, returning it to 6% of the salary, and starting to establish the Independent Pension Fund.

The Gathering addressed a message to the government, holding it fully responsible for any movements, sit-ins, and paralysis that may affect public administrations and facilities in the event of ignoring their demands.