Beirut - The Lebanese government approved a 67 % minimum wage hike after a marathon meeting on Tuesday and also decided to remove airport security chief Brig. Gen. Wafiq Shqeir over his alleged links to Hezbollah.
The minimum wage was increased from 300000 LL ( $200) to 500,000 LL( $333)
The cabinet also labeled "illegal and unconstitutional" a private communications network set up by Hezbollah on Lebanese territory.
A statement read by Information Minister Ghazi Aridi at the end of the meeting around 4:30 am said the cabinet also agreed to cancel customs on main imported food staples.
The daily An Nahar said Finance Minister Jihad Azour warned that he would resign when the government suggested to raise the minimum wage by over LL 500,000, arguing that this would hurt the treasury.
On the Hezbollah telephone network issue, Aridi said the government decided to refer the dossier, which shows Iran's involvement in the case, to the Arab League and international community.
The government also dismissed claims by Hezbollah which said the network was essential for the group's security.
Aridi said the government authorized security forces to pursue the "abnormal" issue and arrest all those involved in setting up the network, labeled a "violation of Lebanese laws."
Regarding Shqeir, An Nahar quoted ministerial sources as saying he would rejoin the army command.
The sources said official sides received "direct threats" from forces within the Hezbollah -led opposition warning them against messing with the Hezbollah network or with Shqeir's post.
Democratic Gathering leader MP Walid Jumblatt has demanded the "sacking" of Shqeir, accusing him of allowing Hezbollah to place cameras in the airport area to "monitor the arrival of Lebanese or foreign leaders, to kidnap or assassinate (people) on the airport road."
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