The information office of Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani issued the following statement:

Deputy Prime Minister Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani reiterated his support to the demands of the workers in the governmental hospitals to place them on an equal foot with the public sector workers, since they are fully carrying out their duties and are working extra hours, knowing that they are paying for the lack of liquidity in the governmental hospitals, causing a delay in payment of their salaries.

Hasbani asked that the injustice against the workers, especially those of the third, fourth and fifth categories should be considered until a complete reform is undertaken in the governmental hospitals, their system and work.

Hasbani stressed that periodic meetings are held with them to discuss their demands, knowing that the Ministry played a major in coordinating between them and the administrations of the governmental hospitals. In this context, he noted that a meeting was held on 24 January 2018 between a team from the Ministry, the workers and the President of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers Bechara Asmar to study the scales and developing a legal framework for the same. The follow-up committee of the workers will held a meeting this afternoon to finalize the scales and submit them to the Health Ministry within 24 hours, in order to be discussed with the Ministry of Finance.

“We are working to bring together the viewpoints of the workers and the Ministry of finance to ensure the scales of the governmental hospitals workers. We will stand by them to support their demands in a way that does not harm the Lebanese citizen, mainly the patients,” Hasbani added.