Parliament Approves Granting Fuel Subsidies to Public Transportation Drivers

The parliament approved on Thursday on granting public transportation drivers’ fuel subsidy payments for a three month period.

Last week, Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks with representatives from the land transportation syndicate and public drivers to implement an arrangement that was agreed upon.

Following the meeting, the drivers’ union nationwide strike was suspended. It was aimed at protesting the government’s failure to deliver on a monthly LL400,000 fuel subsidy promised in May.

The transportation sector had continuously staged general strikes to protest the soaring fuel prices and demand a price cap on surging gasoline prices.

An agreement was achieved in May between ex-Finance Minister Raya al-Hassan and driver union chiefs over subsidizing drivers’ fuel prices in order to help them deal with price rises.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil had delayed the release of the fuel prices many times during the tenure of the last cabinet after a dispute with al-Hassan over how to resolve the rises in gasoline prices.

Bassil proposed tax cuts on the prices, after cutting LL5,000 several months ago, but al-Hassan refused this measure because of the impact the cut would have on the treasury’s revenues.

Labor and trade unions have repeatedly petitioned the government to eliminate all taxes and fees on gasoline prices.