Lebanon's PM introduces controversial salary scale package in parliament to end public sector anger

Najib Miktai

Wikipedia-Ricardo Stuck...

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati is expected to send the controversial salary scale package to Parliament for approval amid growing pressure by the Union Coordination Committee.

The move comes as the Committee is preparing to stage an open-ended strike to increase pressure on the government to raise their wages.

Mikati expects the salary scale to be approved by the Cabinet and has promised to secure the funding without raising the taxes this year, a source said. The exact measures he intends to take to fund the salary increase are yet to be revealed.

Economists and businessmen have warned that any salary increase for public sector employees at this stage would cause the budget deficit to rise to above $4 billion.