Article Author:
Associated Press
Kareem Chehaeb
BEIRUT (AP) — Tarek Younes was once a down-to-earth middle class and inspector for the Lebanese government's consumer protection agency. I felt that I was contributing to society. But the country's plunging economy has eroded his income and civic pride.
In desperation, Younes joined tens of thousands of public sector employees across the country in an unrestricted strike that has already lasted him six weeks.
Protests by civil servants who form the government's backbone indicate further erosion of Lebanese public institutions, already struggling to cover the most basic operating costs.
The strike will continue if the authorities continue to delay decisive action on the major financial and administrative reforms the International Monetary Fund is seeking to put Lebanon's economy into a coma. , again viable, giving a bleak outlook on how Lebanon will sink further.
Meanwhile, protests have further disrupted Lebanese life and brought even the most basic government services to a halt. No identity cards, birth certificates or school transcripts were issued. Air traffic controllers have announced that they will be suspending night shifts in August.
Over the past year, public transport drivers and public school teachers have staged sporadic strikes and protests, which they hoped would serve as a wake-up call to the government. .
"I don't know how they think about economic recovery when so many people who were once middle class are now living in poverty." Younes told the Associated Press. "We're reaching out and making compromises, but the government needs to do the same, and they need to give us some of the rights." } Decades of corruption and poor financial management have been blamed by many for the vicious cycle in Lebanon's economy, now in its third year. They say Lebanon's small ruling elite caused the world's worst economic crisis since the mid-19th century, with three-quarters of the population now considered poor.
The government has not raised wages for public sector workers since the country's financial crisis began in late 2019. Meanwhile, the Lebanese pound has fallen more than 90% against the dollar. Moreover, food, petrol and medicine prices are rising sharply due to high inflation.
Younes, who heads the Association of Government Workers, said public sector wages once secured a middle-class lifestyle at about $1,300 a month. However, its value plummeted rapidly, equating to under $70. In Lebanon, with a population of about 6 million, about 350,000 Lebanese work in the public sector and their salaries form a large part of the national budget.
Civil servants are demanding modest wage increases, better health care and flexible transportation payments to meet rising gas prices, he says. They will still work at significantly reduced wages, but "will at least help them to live with a minimum of dignity," he says. As an inspector, he struggled to crack down on illegal price hikes and hoarding of gasoline, wheat and medicines. was tasked with monitoring the
Lebanon's ruling party squabbled, putting together an economic recovery plan, restructuring its dysfunctional banks, and his bailout program to reform his shattered economy. is stuck in an agreement with the IMF.
The country's caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati, said it could not afford to meet the workers' demands, but offered temporary cash bonuses and slightly improved transportation allowances. Department employees have returned to work, but most are still keeping their doors closed, Younes said.
"What does (the bonus) do? Does it help you get to work, pay your electricity or phone bills?" Younes said. "You can do any of these things, but then you won't be able to feed your children, take them to school, or get health care."
58}Lebanon's public sector was weak even before the crisis began in late 2019, said Sami Zoughaib, an economist at the Beirut-based think tank The Policy Initiative. He described it as bloated, inefficient and undermined by political patronage and corruption. I used it as a tool for social practice," he said. "Many of them are ghost employees who are only there to pick up checks and never show up for work." While it may be mitigated, it could provoke a backlash, affect political loyalty, and exacerbate Lebanon's already alarming poverty rates. No social protection program.
“If you lay off 20 percent of your employees or he 30 percent, how can you be sure they will survive? What social protection measures will you use? Are you there?” Zugaib said.
Lebanon has stalled in adopting the major structural reforms needed to reach an agreement with his IMF on a massive economic recovery programme, and instead the government has decided to take steps to quell social tensions. Relying on stopgap measures.
Zgayb is not optimistic that this will change.
"They will keep kicking the can at Patchwork without hurting themselves politically," he said. "This is detrimental to both the public sector and the Lebanese people who need public institutions."
Meanwhile, Younes looks anxious at the consumer protection department's desk as he takes a call. shuffling documents to This is another brawl on the bread production line, where Beirut bakers appear to be illegally hoarding subsidized imported wheat. He calls his two inspectors to investigate the situation.
Younes argues that sporadic visits to an office a few floors below the economy minister's office do not mark the end of the strike. He said he was still involved in several emergencies related to food security, particularly bread. Being part of the people, there is no doubt that we will choose to continue to respond to this issue at the very least,” he said.
Younes then prepares for another call with some ministers negotiating with the striking workers. He says their sympathy is no longer enough.
"I hope the rulers will do the same as we have promised to continue our administrative work," he said. "Without the public sector, there is no state, no association."