• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Politics
  4. Beirut: Public transport drivers protest soaring prices, living conditions
Economy

Beirut: Public transport drivers protest soaring prices, living conditions

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 Feb 2022 19:02
  • 1 Shares

In a country where the currency has lost more than 90% of its value, public transport drivers block several roads, for the second time in three weeks, to protest the surging gas prices.

  • Unions have united since October in protesting against soaring gas prices
    Unions have united since October in protesting against soaring gas prices.

Public transport and trucks drivers blocked the main entrances to Beirut today, on Wednesday, in addition to many other big Lebanese cities, in a general strike against the soaring fuel prices and to call for better living conditions.

The protest lasted from the early morning hours till 14:00 local time. The leader of the public transport drivers' union, Bassam Tleis, told the Al-Manar Lebanese news outlet that the protests and blocking roads might continue on the next two days unless the cabinet led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati meets their demands.  

The protesters demanded an increase in public transport tariffs to 64,000 LBP. The strike comes as the government was to hold a session to discuss the current issues, and the drivers' demands were reportedly not included on the agenda of the cabinet meeting, despite the fuel crisis being a priority, not just to these drivers, but to many who still receive an unacceptable minimum wage of 675 000 LPB, which is equal to around 28$.

Despite previous protests, the demands of the union have not been answered. Even teachers of public and private schools took part to demand higher salaries amid the ongoing economic crisis which has led to the rise of the inflation rate and the escalation of prices, leaving a large part of the country’s population below the poverty line.

This was the second time in three weeks unions held strikes, which forced schools, universities, and many businesses to close, as many rely on taxis, buses, or minivans for their daily transportation from their houses to the workplace, due to the fact that few have access to public transportation, which lacks innovation and efficiency in the first place.

Lebanon needs $12-15 bn for economic recovery: BDL chief

Lebanon requires $12-15 billion to start its process of economic recovery and support its fast-diminishing foreign currency reserves, BDL governor Riad Salameh said Tuesday.

Lebanon is facing an unprecedented economic crisis, which the World Bank ranked among the top 10 worst economic crises in the world since the mid-nineteenth century.

Over 80% of the population lives in poverty, and the national currency, the Lebanese pound, has lost more than 90% of its black market value as Beirut is yet to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund amid a political crisis.

"Our quota in the International Monetary Fund is four billion," Salameh said.

"The mandatory reserves are around $12.5 billion," that the central bank can't spend, Salameh said. He also explained that an additional $1.5 billion in reserves had been freed up for central bank spending.

Lebanon's mandatory reserves were $32 billion before the economic crisis started in the country.

  • Gas prices
  • Lebanon
  • Beirut
  • Lebanese crisis
  • Economic crisis in Lebanon
2022 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections

2022 Lebanese Parliamentary Elections

In Lebanon, the local currency has lost about 90% of its value, aggravating the socio-economic situation of the majority of the Lebanese population and sending the prices of the most basic necessities and commodities through the roof. After more than two long years of an unprecedented economic crisis, Lebanon is holding its parliamentary elections on May 15. Will the results bring about change or provide solutions to the multiple crises in the country?

Trending Now

All
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati

Lebanese PM: Hezbollah is a Lebanese political party

Most Read

Haaretz

Mossad agent killed in Italy part of anti-Iran mission: Israeli media

  • Europe
  • 3 Jun
Screengrab from drone video footage showing Ukrainian Leopard tanks getting hit by Russian artillery in the Zaparozhye direction (Social media / Telegram: ZA_FROHT)

Germany's Leopards, IRIS-Ts not holding up well in Ukraine

  • Europe
  • Today
James G. Rickards. (WIkipedia)

Ex-CIA advisor predicts date when US dollar hegemony will collapse

  • Europe
  • 7 Jun
NATO may deploy troops in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

NATO states may deploy in Ukraine to guarantee security: Former chief

  • Europe
  • Today

Read this

All
Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe
MENA

Swiss team to visit Lebanon in Salameh probe

  • Today
Muslim worshippers gather for Friday prayers, next to the Dome of the Rock Mosque in the Al Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem's old city, Friday, April 1, 2022. (AP)
Palestine

'Israel' plans to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque compound between Muslims, Jews

  • Today
Germany's second largest refinery of BP in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany, on Jan. 30, 2023. (AP)
Europe

Eurozone entered technical recession: EuroStat

  • Today
RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans
US & Canada

RFK Jr. says Pentagon hid Ukraine truth from Americans

  • Today
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS