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3. Public Sector Crisis: The Finance Minister’s Last Straw

Tensions are mounting in the deserted halls of Lebanon’s public administrations. A single decision by the Ministry of Finance on May 15 was enough to trigger an immediate call for a strike. But beyond the standoff over working hours, deeper issues are surfacing—highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reform of the public sector amid a broader socio-economic unraveling.

What Sparked the Backlash?

An administrative circular and a directive from Finance Minister Yassine Jaber ordered public-sector employees to immediately return to standard working hours, as defined by Law No. 46 of 2017. Under normal circumstances, the move might have seemed reasonable—a return to regular administrative operations. In practice, it sparked a wave of anger. Denouncing the decision as “unrealistic,” employees swiftly called a warning strike, held from May 16 to 20. It was yet another warning sign in a long-simmering, structural crisis—one that no administrative circular or budget directive can conceal.

“Coming to the office full-time under current conditions amounts to working at a loss,” the Association of Public Sector Employees in Lebanon stated in a release issued on May 15. Its figures show nearly 80% of public employees cannot afford their children's school transportation, while daily allowances have dwindled to symbolic amounts. Notably, the ministerial circular also impacts other vulnerable segments of the public sector, including technical contractors—many employed without clear status.

“They mention the laws, but what about those that guarantee a decent wage? Where is the long-promised reform?” the statement reads. It goes on to emphasize: “What public employees are demanding today is not a privilege, but the mere reinstatement of professional dignity that has been undermined.”

Since the 2019 financial crisis and economic collapse, public employees’ salaries—which were very low to begin with—have lost over 90% of their real value. They no longer cover transportation costs, let alone provide a decent standard of living for their families. For example, a fourth-category employee now earns the equivalent of less than $100 per month. Furthermore, occasional adjustments—such as “social assistance” or exceptional allowances—have fallen far short of compensating for the sharp decline in purchasing power.

To make ends meet, many have been forced to take on a second job, effectively benefiting from reduced working hours. But enforcing a return to full-time hours without a corresponding salary increase now leaves them with having to choose between their public-sector employment and economic survival. This explains the outcry sparked by the decision, which has ignited a wave of protests.

The movement was suspended on May 20 after a compromise was announced. According to a statement released the day before, on Monday, May 19, the Association said it had obtained assurances from the Ministry of Finance, which described its meeting with key stakeholders as “positive.” The implementation of the decision was put on hold, and daily allowances for technical service contractors will be maintained. For now, the strike has been called off.

However, this temporary de-escalation does not resolve the core issue. The Association warned of more “significant” actions if the government continues to disregard the rights of public administration employees and fails to meet their demands—primarily for salary increases and equitable treatment across government departments.

A Deeper Crisis: The Loss of Public Service Personnel

Since the 2019 crisis, Lebanon’s public administration has been losing staff at an alarming rate. Early retirements, emigration and gradual disengagement have thinned the ranks of civil employees. Skilled workers—often those juggling second jobs—are the ones leaving ministries or reducing their commitments due to insufficient income.

The return to full working hours, without any mechanism for salary adjustments, risks accelerating this staff drain. For many, giving up their often better-paid second jobs for a public-sector position that no longer guarantees stability or respect is unthinkable. Once a pillar of Lebanon’s middle class, public service has become a low-income trap.

While the stakes are undeniably high for public employees, the state faces an equally harsh reality: it currently lacks the means to raise salaries and meet the “aspirations”—which are, in fact, the most basic needs of public-sector employees.

Lebanon has been operating on a reduced budget for years, with extremely limited public funding largely reliant on international aid—aid that has sharply declined due to political considerations. Financial institutions condition any support on the implementation of structural reforms, which have yet to materialize.

The standoff is far from over. Stability within the public sector now hangs by a thread—a fragile one woven from promises often left unfulfilled and precarious compromises. Without a clear strategy to restore meaning and value to public employees’ work, the state stands to lose not only its workforce but also what remains of its administrative legitimacy. This is especially critical as today, the resilience of the public is being pushed to its breaking point.