Workers' sit-in Thursday against new taxes: Calls for massive participation

Castro Abdallah, the president of the National Union of Workers and Employees' Syndicates, urged all workers, employees, drivers, retirees, and those with limited incomes affected by the government's new unfair tax policies to participate widely on Thursday in the protests against the Cabinet's new taxes, which disproportionately impact the most vulnerable social groups, he said.

The sit-in is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Beirut.

The Lebanese government sparked widespread anger after its decision on Feb. 16 to partially adjust civil servants' salaries and pensions, funding the measure by increasing the VAT and fuel prices.

Despite explanations from Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and Finance Minister Yassin Jaber, who argue that the increase does not affect the entire population but only the wealthiest, public perception across social groups was quite different, and the measure has drawn the ire of unions.

In his statement, Abdallah believes that the government, "instead of adopting fair tariff policies and seeking funds by fighting corruption and waste of public money, has continued down a path that adds to people’s suffering."

He noted that "the social movement will begin with a gathering at Riad al-Solh Square [downtown Beirut] Thursday at 10 a.m., to express with one voice the rejection of the VAT and fuel price hikes, which affect the poorest."

The union leader called for "demanding a progressive and fair fiscal policy that shifts the tax burden onto the wealthier segments of the population."

Open-ended strike and street actions

For his part, Maroun Khawli, president of the Lebanese Workers’ Unions, held a press conference Tuesday announcing that "the measures and preparations for a general strike and democratic protest movements have been completed, in order to protect the rights of the Lebanese."

"The patience of the Lebanese people has run out," he insisted.

For him, "the decision to raise fuel prices was not an ordinary financial measure but a political and economic choice that struck at the heart of the economic cycle," describing soaring prices in the city.

"Fuels affect the transportation of raw materials, and therefore their prices, especially in such chaos and with the government’s weak controls," he added.

Citing figures, Khawli calculated that the monthly transportation cost for low-income individuals using taxi services could reach $116, while he predicted a 28% increase in prices for essential goods, posing a threat to household food security.

The unionist called on the Lebanese to participate in massive demonstrations starting Thursday, stating that the escalation to come cannot be announced in advance because the next steps depend on potential regional developments (alluding to a possible U.S.-Iran war).

"But expect from us announcements of an open-ended general strike, civil disobedience, and street actions," he concluded.