Economy

The Lebanese State’s Staggering Revenue Losses
The Lebanese State’s Staggering Revenue Losses

Every Lebanese government routinely and systematically tracks the state's expenditures and revenues. Yet, they consistently failed to accurately assess the substantial revenue losses, totaling around $3 billion. Despite persistently seeking assistance from the international community, they remain unwilling to implement the much-needed reforms that ...

Finance: Extension of Certain Payment Deadlines
Finance: Extension of Certain Payment Deadlines

On Tuesday, the caretaker Minister of Finance, Youssef Khalil, published four decisions extending the payment deadlines for certain taxes. The aim is to give taxpayers additional time to pay their dues, and thus avoid late payment fines. The payment deadline for the annual flat-rate and proportional tax levied on establishments selling alcoholic ...

CPI: +18.8% Year-on-Year in January 2024
CPI: +18.8% Year-on-Year in January 2024

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) jumped 18.8% year-on-year in January 2024 compared to the same month last year. All nine main indices showed increases in January 2024. The country recorded triple-digit inflation rates as it plunged into a multidimensional crisis. Policymakers still refuse to take responsibility and implement the structural reforms ...

Beirut Airport Traffic: 9% Less Flights in February
Beirut Airport Traffic: 9% Less Flights in February

Traffic at Beirut International Airport (BIA) recorded an increase in passenger numbers in February, but a fall in the number of flights. According to figures released by the airport, 413,111 departing and arriving passengers passed through the airport, an increase of 1% compared to February 2023. The number of arrivals in Lebanon rose by 2.57% ...

FAO: Red Sea Crisis Leads to Higher Prices
FAO: Red Sea Crisis Leads to Higher Prices

The Director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Liaison Office with Russia, Oleg Kobyakov, warned that the situation in Bab el-Mandeb and the Red Sea is affecting food trade and driving up product prices. He asserted that "the Houthis' siege of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea is negatively impacting world food trade," ...

Asmar for a Minimum Wage of LBP 52 Million
Asmar for a Minimum Wage of LBP 52 Million

The president of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), Bechara Asmar, said that it is necessary to increase salaries in both the public and private sectors and, in doing so, alleviate the suffering of citizens. In an interview granted to the IMLebanon website, he pointed out that the economic situation in Lebanon is deteriorating ...

Public Sector: Wage Increase to Cost $1.46 Billion
Public Sector: Wage Increase to Cost $1.46 Billion

The question of civil servants' salaries is once again at the forefront of the economic scene, following the government's approval on Wednesday, under strong pressure from strikes, of decrees aimed at increasing them. This decision reinforces fears of a repeat of the 2017 scenario when the wage scale law was passed. Experts believe that the wage ...

Ministry of Finance Strike Temporarily Suspended
Ministry of Finance Strike Temporarily Suspended

The directors of the Ministry of Finance announced on Sunday the "temporary" suspension of their strike from Monday, March 4, to "complete the process of paying salaries and carry out all transactions of citizens and other departments and institutions of the state." These remarks came in a statement issued the day after a meeting held on Saturday ...

Will Private Schools Be Able to Pay Teachers' Raises?
Will Private Schools Be Able to Pay Teachers' Raises?

The agreement, approved by the caretaker government, between the Teachers' Syndicate and the Federation of Private Educational Institutions under the auspices of the Ministry of Education for financing the indemnity fund (amounting to 100 billion Lebanese Pounds) for the teaching community has enabled the fund to pay salary increases to retired ...

Will Striking Finance Ministry Employees Modify Their Stance?
Will Striking Finance Ministry Employees Modify Their Stance?

Following rumors implying that the striking employees of the Ministry of Finance will not process the February salaries of civil servants, sources close to the Ministry assured This is Beirut that the mood surrounding discussions to resolve the problem is positive and the Ministry's employees are not heading for escalation — quite the ...

BDL Circular 693 Addressed to Financial Companies
BDL Circular 693 Addressed to Financial Companies

In an interim circular bearing number 693 dated 29/2/2024, the Banque du Liban (BDL) made a temporary adjustment to the operating conditions of financial companies operating in Lebanon. Circular 693, which refers to the decision adopted by the Central Council of the Banque du Liban, which met on February 28, 2024, commands financial companies to ...

Strike Maintained at Finance Ministry, Salary Payment Uncertain
Strike Maintained at Finance Ministry, Salary Payment Uncertain

Finance Ministry employees are maintaining their work stoppage, while their colleagues in other ministries have announced the temporary suspension of their strike until Friday, March 8, 2024. Paralysis at the Finance Ministry implies that the salaries of civil servants and pensioners will not be paid on time. The Ministry’s employees said they ...