October 20, 2026
The Minister of Finance, Yassin Jaber, called for the necessity of an urgent transition from approving the retirement and social protection system to the stage of actual implementation, stressing that the rights of retirees cannot tolerate further delay, and that ensuring them requires political consensus, sustainable financing, and transparent management.
Jaber’s speech came during his sponsorship of the launch of the book “The New Retirement System in Social Security – Social Protection” by author Mr. Sadiq Alawiya, where he stressed the importance of accelerating the completion of decrees and applied procedures, and providing the administrative, financial, and technical conditions necessary to put the system into effect.
The Minister of Finance indicated that the law approved by the House of Representatives in December 2023 addressed a fundamental gap in the social protection system, warning that the passage of about three legislative periods (about 3 years) since its approval places the state with a direct responsibility to accelerate its implementation. He added in a related context: “The worker who is waiting for his retirement pension does not measure achievement by the number of meetings, but by the amount of security that enters his life.”
Jaber explained that the Lebanese crisis demonstrated the fragility of the unified compensation system (which is paid once), especially in light of the erosion of its value and the high burdens of living and hospitalization, stressing that the retirement pension represents a periodic income that guarantees the maintenance of the citizen’s dignity and independence after the end of his period of service.
Regarding financial sustainability, he pointed out that protecting social rights begins with fortifying their funding sources through accurate financial estimates, effective collection of contributions, transparent management and serious oversight, in addition to disciplined investment of social security funds. In this regard, he said: “Guarantee money carries people’s fatigue and future security, and any decision related to it must be taken on this basis.”
Jaber also linked maintaining the actual value of pensions to achieving monetary and financial stability, considering that the value of a right is measured by its ability to secure the basic needs of its owner, not by the number written on paper.
The Minister touched on the current challenges, noting that the burdens resulting from the financial and economic crisis, which were exacerbated by the Israeli attacks and the destruction and displacement they caused, require the state to more carefully manage resources and arrange priorities, in an effort to restore confidence in institutions.
Jaber stressed that the reform path, cooperation with international institutions, and the efforts made to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund should be directly reflected in the quality of life of the Lebanese people and their ability to work, save, recover, and live in dignity.
The Minister of Finance concluded his call by emphasizing the need to neutralize the retirement and security issues from political tensions, considering that it is an issue that enjoys a national consensus because it affects the rights of all Lebanese regardless of their affiliations or regions. He said in conclusion: “It is the right of those who spent their lives building this country to find security in it when they retire.”
