The “Gathering of Public Sector Associations (Civilians and Military)” warned of the deterioration suffered by workers and retirees in the public sector, confirming in a statement that the Council of Ministers had agreed in its meeting on February 16 to increase salaries and pensions six-fold, with a promise to discuss raising them to thirty-fold in the month of March, which is equivalent to 50% of their value in dollars in 2019.
The statement explained that the government, despite its ability to cover the costs of these increases by raising fuel prices, was unable to find a legal mechanism to disburse them, which increased the hardships of workers and retirees, especially since a large percentage of them are displaced people, who represent no less than 30% of the total number of displaced people.
The group called on the government to expedite the disbursement of the increases that were approved at the aforementioned meeting, and to fulfill its obligations to raise salaries and pensions thirty-fold, while proposing a gradual increase at a rate of six times every six months.
He also called on the Minister of Finance, as the primary official responsible for managing public financial affairs, to take quick and concrete measures that reflect the extent of the suffering, in light of the continuous deterioration in purchasing power and the decline in wages, stressing that the current situation requires a fair financial vision that restores the balance between state revenues and citizens’ rights.
At the conclusion of its statement, the group called on all workers and retirees in the public sector to prepare for a gradual escalation, the details of which will be announced at the appropriate time, with the aim of restoring rights before it is too late.
