Teachers’ union says wage hikes do not meet its demands

The Syndicate Coordination Committee which represents the Lebanese teachers rejected on Thursday the cabinet’s latest decision on wage hikes

Following the meeting, the committee said that the increase on the minimum monthly and daily wages “does not fulfill the demands of the Syndicate Coordination Committee,” National News Agency reported.

The cabinet voted on Wednesday on a new increase the minimum monthly wages from 500,000 LL to 868, 000 LL or about 74 %

Information Minister Walid Daouq said following the meeting that the ministers also agreed to increase the daily minimum wage to 33,000 LL and introduce a minimum monthly transportation allowance of 268,000 LL.

The statement said that the strike will include all high schools, private, public and vocational schools.

The Syndicate Coordination Committee called on teachers in the private and official sectors and those teaching in vocational schools to join the protest which will take place on December 15 at 12 p.m.

The statement said that the demonstration will kick off at Sodeco Square from where protesters will head toward the Grand Serail.

The Lebanese cabinet on Wednesday approved the wage increase plan that was proposed by PM Nagib Mikati

On Wednesday, According to the Information Minister Walid al-Daouq the minimum wage was raised to 600,000 LL, while wages between 500,000 LL and 1 million LL where raised by 30 percent on the condition that the increase is minimum 150,000 LL and maximum 200,000 LL.

As for wages exceeding 1 million LL, the cabinet agreed to a 20 percent raise as long as the increase does not exceed 275,000 LL.

Head of the General Workers Union Ghassan Ghosn told OTV television on Thursday evening that the wage increase approved by the government “was unfair” to the workers.

“We reject this humiliating wage increase because it doesn’t meet the hopes and expectations of the workers and their demands,” he also told An Nahar newspaper.