Govt. 'Keen' on BDL Independence as Hariri, Salameh 'Agree on Ending Strike'
The contacts between Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Banque du Liban Governor Riad Salameh are "positive," after all ambiguities on which BDL employees based their strike were clarified, a media report said.
"The two sides agreed to end the central bank's strike tomorrow," NBN television reported, citing information it has obtained.
Speaking after a cabinet session at the Grand Serail, Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah said "the government is keen on Banque du Liban's independence and is not seeking to interfere in its decisions and policies."
"The leaks are baseless and the strikes we've witnessed were based on false information," Jarrah added.
The minister also noted that the government's financial and economic approach requires "the participation of everyone in the solutions," adding that the government will approve a host of "structural reforms."
The Cabinet meanwhile postponed discussing Article 60 of the draft state budget which calls for finance ministry supervision over the budgets of public institutions, as Industry Minister Wael Abu Faour said the discussions are expected to be finalized this week in not more than two or three sessions.
The BDL strike has sparked fears of cash and fuel shortage crises in the country.
The Beirut Stock Exchange has also suspended trading, saying the clearance and settlement of transactions cannot be done on time "during the period of open strike."
Central bank employees say they are protesting a decision to slash their benefits as part of a new austerity package being studied by Cabinet ahead of this year's budget.
Other public sector employees have resorted to similar measures against possible austerity measures in recent weeks.
Cabinet met on Monday to discuss the package.
Lebanon has vowed to slash public spending to unlock $11 billion worth of aid pledged by international donors during an April 2018 conference in Paris.
Last month, Prime Minister Saad Hariri vowed to introduce "the most austere budget in Lebanon's history" to combat the country's bulging fiscal deficit, sparking fears among public sector employees that their salaries may be cut.
Lebanon is one of the world's most indebted countries, with public debt estimated at 141 percent of GDP in 2018, according to credit ratings agency Moody's.
Source: Naharnet
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