Khoury: Wage Scale Must be Separated from Budget

Economy Minister Raed Khoury stressed the need to separate the longtime wage scale file from the state's annual budget over concerns that it would remain pending if the cabinet discussions stuttered.

“The wage scale must be separated from the annual budget over fears that discussions would remain pending in the cabinet,” Khoury told VDL (93.3).

“The scale would not be approved except after the issuance of reform laws and a thorough study to the scale to preserve the citizens' rights,” he said, adding “this would need about a month or two ; thus, if the salary scale remained within the budget then none of them would be approved.”

The Minister hailed the ongoing efforts to approve an annual budget: “The ongoing intensive discussions over the budget draft reflect clear will to approve it. Those were reflected in Prime Minister Saad Hariri's calls to hold successive cabinet sessions until a final budget formula is approved.”

Hariri scheduled successive cabinet meetings next week to approve a budget.

Due to conflicts between the rival political parties, Lebanon has not approved a state budget since 2005 and its public debt has amounted to around $70 billion.

Responding to a question regarding the course of the electoral law, Khoury confirmed that there is "no return to the 60's law."