Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairing a ministerial committee meeting. (Photo courtesy NNA)
BEIRUT —Maurice Slim, caretaker National Defense Minister, announced Thursday that transportation allowances for military personnel would be increased to LL1,800,000 per month. He also suggested that the salaries of soldiers, both in service and retired, could be doubled, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• Until now, the transportation allowance for Lebanese Army soldiers amounted to LL1,200,000 per month. The raise was reportedly decided upon during a meeting on Thursday of the Ministerial Committee in charge of addressing the repercussions of the financial crisis on public utilities, chaired by caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
• After the meeting, Slim said officials would "likely double the salaries of the soldiers who are in service, and those who have retired." He added that another meeting Friday afternoon "to make an appropriate decision" about raising the salaries.