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Lebanon PM calls for legal action against public employees who strike

May 7, 2019 at 2:00 pm

Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri in Beirut, Lebanon on 14 February 2019 [LEBANESE PRIME MINISTRY OFFICE / HANDOUT/Anadolu Agency]

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri issued an administrative memorandum requesting the official departments and all regulatory bodies in the country to take legal action against state employees who participate in strikes or call for them.

Public employees in Lebanon launched strike action yesterday against state budget proposals that would cut their salaries as well as benefits in order to help tackle the country’s severe budget deficit.

The strikes continued although Lebanese Finance Minister, Ali Hassan Khalil, and other cabinet ministers denied that the new budget included salaries cuts.

A number of vital state institutions participated in the strikes including staff at the Central Bank of Lebanon which ceased operations as a result.

The action was called off today until Friday when a new plan of action will be drawn up.

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