Parliament Approves Transportation Allowance Decree

The parliament ended on Wednesday a prolonged debate on the transportation allowance by approving a draft-law based on the two proposals made by MPs Ibrahim Kanaan and Nabil de Freij.

The two lawmakers proposed separate draft-laws set to legalize the transportation allowance.

During the last parliamentary session, Speaker Nabih Berri tasked Labor Minister Salim Jreissati, Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Kanaan and al-Mustaqbal bloc lawmaker de Freij to agree on an amended draft that includes both proposals.

Sharp differences in opinion between former Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas and Prime Minister Najib Miqati forced Nahhas to resign after he refused any compromises regarding the transportation and education allowances decrees and vowed not to sign them.

But acting labor minister Nicolas Fattoush later signed the decrees. And Jreissati was later appointed as Nahhas’ successor.