The head of the General Labor Union, Beshara Al-Asmar, confirmed that the general strike scheduled for next Wednesday is still in place, explaining that the meeting of the ministerial committee in charge of dialogue with the union, which was held today, did not resolve the issues and demands raised.
In an interview with Lebanon Debate, Al-Asmar indicated that the Minister of Finance expressed a clear position regarding the difficulty of the state’s financial situation, stressing that the ministry does not currently have sufficient funds to meet all demands, at a time when the Union is aware of the extent of the economic and financial crisis that the country is suffering from.
Al-Asmar stressed that the union’s demands “are not impossible, but rather represent the minimum of rights,” revealing that the Indicator Committee will hold its third meeting to discuss the issue of the minimum wage, end-of-service compensation in the National Social Security Fund, and wage supplements, in the hope of reaching satisfactory solutions.
He described the step of taking to the street as a “bitter option at this stage,” stressing that if no positive results are achieved, barricading the street will take place on Wednesday. He pointed out that the Union took into account the state’s financial situation with the aim of reaching an “acceptable limit” of demands, without imposing additional burdens on other sectors or causing negative repercussions on the economy.
Al-Asmar added: “We seek a protected public sector and an acceptable private sector, without affecting the rest of the sectors or creating new taxes or fees,” stressing that refusing to impose any new taxes or fees is a major demand, with the need to search for solutions within the available capabilities.
Commenting on the position of the Minister of Finance, Al-Asmar pointed out that the Minister is dealing with the file from the standpoint of securing revenues, stressing that the financial reality requires achieving a precise balance between expenditures and revenues in accordance with the principle that “for every income there is a way out,” which requires that any financial measures be well-studied and compatible with the returns and available capabilities.
