The entrance to the Baabda Palace of Justice. ANI archive photo
In protest over what they call "meager" salaries and "humiliating and unfair" family allowances, judicial assistants announced Monday a three-day general strike that will take place from Wednesday to Friday.
According to a statement issued by the judicial assistants' committees, the strike includes "the complete halt of all hearings and pleadings, the suspension of investigation services and detainee hearings, as well as the suspension of registration of any complaint or legal action." "The only exception: cases subject to a final legal deadline," the statement adds.
The issue of public sector salary levels is one of the most pressing challenges for the government of Nawaf Salam, formed in February. Salaries have not been adjusted fully to compensate for the collapse of the lira, but many believe the Lebanese administration is overstaffed, inefficient and too costly.
Before the crisis, public sector pay represented a third of the state budget, which was around $15 billion at the time. The exact number of civil servants in public administration is not known precisely. Some sources estimate the figure between 200,000 and 300,000 people, including armed forces personnel.
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