A news article today said the government justification of the rise in duties was to preserve environment, but it is the same government which permitted import of diesel engine cars which is far more dangerous on the environment. At yesterday's session of the committee, in presence of prime minister Rafic Hariri, the committee adopted number of pending clauses. Hrawi said the committee agreed to increase working hours in public institutions from 32 to 36 hours per week, with the addition of one hour per day from Monday to Thursday. Office hours on Friday and Saturday will remain unchanged. The committee has also agreed to the procedures to be followed in selecting first and second grade civil servants.
Candidates have to sit to an exam by a special committee that yet to be appointed.
Meanwhile, the government and parliament have to look now into financial resources to cover the cost. Hrawi said ensuring the funding is through cooperation between the government and parliament. State minister for finance Fouad Seniora had always reiterated that financing the scale is only possible through new taxes on items other than those included in the recent decisions. Speaker Nabih Berri, who strongly supported the government decisions on agriculture and custom duties on cars, told the Journalists Association yesterday he won't accept any increase on gasoline or else. Without parliament support the only feasible measure is to simply increase salaries of the public sector by 20 per cent and the new scale to be postponed until further notice.