President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, said on Tuesday that the formation of a socioeconomic council would pave the way for dialogue between employers and employees in search for a new social agreement that would help boost the country's development process.
"What has been achieved so far at the social and economic levels is to be complemented with reform, combating corruption, and restoring balance among production sectors," Aoun told a General Labor Confederation delegation that visited Baabda Palace earlier on Tuesday, in the company of GLC head, Dr. Bechara Asmar.
"It is everyone's responsibility to maintain financial stability in the country," the President added.
In turn, Asmar thanked Aoun for his efforts approving the wage hike, for his position pushing for the issuance of a general budget, and for putting the country on the path of state reform.
Asmar also handed the President a memorandum that included proposals "on the taxes needed to finance the treasury deficit."
Separately, President Aoun welcomed State Minister for Planning Affairs, Michel Pharaon. Talks between the pair touched on the general situation in the country in light of the current political developments.
Pharaon said that he had raised with the President the issue of reactivating the Socioeconomic Council.
"The Socioeconomic Council is an important link in the course of dialogue between workers and employers," the Minister stressed. "President Aoun has informed me that this issue will be discussed by the Council of Ministers soon," he added.
Moreover, he pointed out that talks with Aoun also touched on the need to activate the rent law, especially with regard to the Tenants Fund.
The economic situation in the country featured high on discussions between President Aoun and Economy Minister, Raed Khoury, who said after the meeting that he had taken the president's permission to travel to the United States to participate in meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
Within this framework, Khoury briefed Aoun on the topics to be discussed during these meetings and on Lebanon's stance vis-a-vis these topics.
"We will inform the meeting members in Washington on the progress made in Lebanon through the preparation of a public budget, a new economic plan, and other points that have been the focus of permanent research with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund," Khoury explained.
On another level, Khoury said that he had shared with Aoun documents and statistics that prove the prices of basic commodities have not been increased in the wake of the tax and wage hikes.
"The competent bodies at the Ministry continue to monitor and fight any attempt at raising prices," he added.
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