Military retirees, together with a number of pensioners’ committees, civil servants and private sector workers, are holding a protest against the reduction of retirement benefits amid growing prices of things.
This was a nearly complete absence of social and healthcare insurances, as well as transport payments, as reported on Thursday.
The protest is taking place at Riad El Solh Square in central Beirut, at the time when the Lebanese National Assembly members are holding a meeting.
Enhanced security measures have been introduced in Beirut, with army units and rapid response forces deployed.
The motto of the protest is “No to hunger and humiliation.’’
The demonstrators were demanding financial reforms and revision of wages of civil servants and private sector workers in light of lower purchasing power and income.
The Lebanese National Assembly is holding a meeting attended by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and some ministers.
The agenda includes 23 bills, such as a bill on lifting banking privacy and a number of financial and other bills, related to municipal elections which would be held in May.
Lebanon has been facing a financial, economic and political crisis since 2019.
Due to the crisis, the country’s banking sector has been almost completely paralyzed and the national currency has significantly devalued.
This has led to more than 70 per cent of the population living below the poverty line.
In order to receive assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international organizations, the country needs to implement financial and economic reforms.
NAN
