Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati during a meeting with diplomats and international organizations on Sept. 9, 2024. (Credit: X / @grandserail)
After Tuesday's protests by retired military personnel, which forced the Cabinet to postpone its scheduled meeting, caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati clarified on Wednesday that he "had indeed requested the Civil Service Council to prepare a comprehensive plan for public sector salary adjustments," according to a statement released by his office.
"On Aug. 5, the head of this body submitted a draft plan for the adjustment of public salaries and allowances," the statement continued. This initial version was discussed with various stakeholders, and modifications were made "to make it a truly comprehensive reform project."
The first draft "was sent to the Council of State for review and feedback before it is discussed by the Cabinet, with the aim of its adoption and subsequent submission to Parliament."
In the meantime, the statement added, "The Prime Minister has instructed the Grand Serail's General Secretariat to prepare a draft decree to release temporary allowances for all public employees, pending the final project’s approval by Parliament."
The statement warned "all those attempting to exploit the demands of public employees and retired military personnel to launch unjustified attacks against the government," stating that such attempts "are bound to fail."
Tuesday's Cabinet session was postponed indefinitely by Mikati after retired military personnel blocked ministers from entering the Grand Serail. In addition to demanding that their issue be placed first on the agenda, the former military members are calling for "the publication of a salary adjustment plan 48 hours before any future Cabinet session." In a statement, they demanded an improvement in their retirement benefits and a raise in salaries across the entire public sector.