Attention is turning to the date of disbursement of the new salary increases that were approved during the government session last week.
Public sector employees, in addition to the military, are impatiently awaiting these increases, amid a 300,000-lira rise in the price of gasoline in order to finance salary additions.
When will these increases be paid?
Financial and economic expert Dr. says: Nassib Ghobril told “Lebanon 24” that “the government decided to start paying the increases starting from the beginning of next March,” noting that “if the government does not secure the full amount of the increases from the gasoline tax, it may resort to using funds from public sector deposits in the Bank of Lebanon, which amount to 820 billion thousand pounds (or the equivalent of 9 billion dollars).”
Gabriel pointed out that it was supposed to approve the increase in gasoline, raise the value-added tax, and approve the $800 million in the budget instead of making the decision in the dead of night after the House of Representatives approved the budget for 2026, but this did not happen considering that the solution came after the budget discussion sessions in the House of Representatives. “The full cost of the increases, which means that the government will find itself facing a new attempt to secure the remaining amount.”
In turn, the legal and constitutional expert, Dr. Saeed Malik told “Lebanon 24” that the increases imposed on fuel are taken directly and this matter is within the government’s powers, but the issue of the “TVA” needs to be approved by the House of Representatives. He continued: “At the end of this month, the House of Representatives cannot meet, and after March 17 it may meet again.” At that time, all the files will be put forward for consideration, and either they will be approved and confirmed or they will go to the parliamentary committees to be studied, and thus matters may take time.”
On the other hand, financial sources told “Lebanon 24” that the government is supposed to resort to gradually giving increases, noting that this scenario has been proposed among the public sector, but its implementation will meet widespread objection as employees are demanding real increases and not “installments.”
