The Parliamentary Labor, Social Development, and Population Committee, chaired by MP Andre Hawari, met on Thursday with the Federation of Independent Trade Unions. This meeting is part of a series of consultative sessions to discuss the draft amended Social Security Law, attended by Federation President Azzam al-Smadi and several central council members.
اضافة اعلان
Financial Sustainability and Rights
MP Hawari emphasized that a primary factor in addressing the proposed amendments is the necessity of adhering to actuarial study results. This ensures the financial sustainability of the Social Security Corporation (SSC) without compromising the rights of its subscribers.
He noted that preliminary insights are beginning to take shape regarding several articles of the draft law, following ongoing dialogues with various stakeholders. Hawari stressed the importance of involving professional and labor sectors in drafting these amendments, praising the unions for their technical and legal recommendations aimed at improving legislation and insurance efficiency.
Key Labor Concerns
For their part, representatives of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions presented several observations and recommendations, focusing on:
Acquired Legal Rights: Maintaining the established legal status of existing subscribers.
Retirement Age: Rejecting any proposals to raise the retirement age.
Early Retirement: Improving conditions for early retirement and protecting insurance benefit formulas.
Unemployment Benefits: Reviewing conditions for unemployment allowances and the management of insurance surpluses.
Tripartite Representation: Ensuring balanced representation (Government, Employers, and Employees) in the corporation’s management.
Comprehensive Reform
The Federation called for a comprehensive reform of the social protection system, which includes employment policies and incentives to reduce insurance evasion. They also highlighted the need for legislation to keep pace with modern economic developments, such as flexible work patterns, and expanding coverage to include self-employed workers.
Participating MPs echoed the need for continued dialogue to reach balanced amendments that harmonize financial durability with the protection of insured individuals' rights.
