The President of the General Labor Confederation in Lebanon, Dr. Bechara Al-Asmar, said in a statement, “Circular No. 4/2022 issued by the Prime Minister to all public administrations, public institutions, municipalities, the Federation of Municipalities, councils, bodies, funds and independent interests, in which he requests the full daily attendance of wage earners, employees, employees and daily-workers in exchange for Giving them what is called social assistance indicates the following:
1- The prime minister’s indifference to the conditions and fatigue of these departments and their employees, especially since the vast majority of them have not received what is called assistance, which is “table crumbs” to date.
2- The president’s failure to adhere to the rotation system (66 percent) in effect until 3/31/2022, and it is a system of general mobilization that the government is primarily responsible for implementing.
3- The absence of the President’s State from the reality of the pricing of incendiary and deadly fuels, and it is more useful to provide these departments, intended by circulation, with their needs and diesel so that attendance is useful.
4- Not focusing on putting an end to the high and erratic prices in the markets: basic materials, fuel, etc., and bread very soon.
5- Some merchants, price and dollar manipulators, and smugglers left goods and money.
6- It is sufficient for workers in the public and private sectors, who are the most vulnerable and weak, in this battle.
Finally, there is no doubt that this circular will lead to more non-attendance and more wear and tear in the administration and institutions of an investment and service nature. There was a just movement of the daily-workers in Ogero today, and before it in the Electricité du Liban, the water services, the workers of the Lebanese University, the mechanical inspection workers, the municipal workers and others, because they did not receive anything from what the President mentioned in terms of aid, transportation compensation and others.
At the beginning of the week, the move will be comprehensive to include all those concerned with the Prime Minister’s circular, leading to a complete strike in all institutions. In the end, we do not want social assistance, we want our wages for our work and hard work, we want our right to a decent and decent life in a state of law and institutions.”