After workers’ representatives failed to follow through on their threat to leave the negotiating table, the Supreme Council of Labour approved a mere 17-percent increase to the minimum wage, even though the lowest acceptable rate for workers was said to have been 25 percent.
ILNA reported on Sunday afternoon that employers and the government were trying to get worker representatives to accept the 17-percent increase to the minimum wage and get the rest of their demands through other forms of benefits.
ILNA describes the council’s decision as a “shock to the workers’ community”.
Independent labour organizations had been indicating that any increase to the minimum wage lower than 25 percent would condemn the working class to hunger and desperation in view of the current living expenses for an average household.
