
A gas station in the Furn al-Chebbak neighborhood on Aug. 21, 2024. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros)
Following a meeting at the government headquarters Wednesday morning, during which it decided to exempt the public transportation sector from certain taxes, the head of the Land Transport Federation, Bassam Tleiss, announced the suspension of the strike planned for Thursday in protest of the recent measure to increase fuel taxes.
"I announce the suspension of the movement planned for tomorrow, and we keep the dialogue open to monitor the effective implementation of what was agreed upon" during this meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, said Tleiss from the Grand Serail, in remarks reported by the state-run National News Agency (NNA). Also present at this meeting were Interior Minister Ahmad Hajjar, Labor Minister Mohammad Haidar, and the head of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) Beshara al-Asmar.
Haidar announced that they "agreed to support [the terrestrial transport sector] or exempt it from certain taxes," adding that it is up to the "finance minister ... to study the implementation mechanism and find the most appropriate means for its implementation." Asmar praised the meeting, allowing a "good start to the summer season without protest movements on the ground likely to harm the tourist season."
The day before, the CGTL and the Land Transport Federation had warned against possible "large-scale" demonstrations on Thursday if the contacts with the authorities did not lead to concrete results.
Extending military increases to other sectors
Haidar also announced that it was "agreed ... to work seriously on assessing the measures and increases decided by the government during its session on May 29, 2025, which was devoted to increases for serving and retired military personnel, so that they are more comprehensive and cover the required and proposed increases for public sector employees." He also announced the "launch" of the "implementation of the road code."
To finance monthly aid to the army – LL 14 million for active military and LL 12 million for retired military, effective from July 1, 2025 – on May 29, the Salam government decided to increase fuel taxes: LL 100,000 on every 20 liters of gasoline sold (about $1.1 at the market rate) and LL 174,000 on every 20 liters of diesel (about $1.94). This tax would affect all motorists without distinction, causing an outcry in the transport sector.
“As for the increases for the military, which were approved by the cabinet, they are indeed in effect; we never said they were canceled,” said Haidar, explaining that a "general evaluation is underway to extend these increases to other sectors, through a broader study of the issue."
The labor minister added that the revenue increase will notably be ensured "thanks to customs duties and taxes imposed on maritime and river properties."
“The basic agreement reached today provides for a re-evaluation of the proposed salary increases, which is very important, and a re-evaluation of the categories concerned by these increases,” stated Asmar, announcing that the increases "also include non-military public sector retirees."
"We are currently studying essential sources of revenue previously unknown to us" to finance these increases, "such as maritime properties, as well as certain customs practices," he added. "The agreement ... will be done in stages, starting with civilian retirees who will be immediately affected. Then, we will move on to the public administration, with a detailed study of the reality of these increases. A comprehensive reflection and consultation are planned to extend these allocations to the entire public service."