Lebanese Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas signed on Friday the government’s decision on a wage hike decree, but he did not sign the bill on the transportation allowance because he has deemed it “illegal.”

Lebanese Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas signed on Friday the government’s decision on a wage hike decree, but he did not sign the bill on the transportation allowance because he has deemed it “illegal.”

He is instead preparing a draft law concerning the transportation and education allowances to refer it to the parliament for endorsement, according to newspapers published on Friday.

A ministerial source told local daily al-Liwaa that the cabinet adopted the Baabda Palace deal that was modified by the minister in order to “legalize” it.

The Baabda agreement was sponsored by Prime Minister Najib Miqati in December between the Economic Committees and the General Labor Confederation.

The plan sets the minimum wage at LL675,000, canceling a LL200,000 increase in wages given on January 1, 2010. The increase on brackets sets the raise on the first bracket up to LL400,000 to 100 percent , a sum that wouldn’t be less than LL375,000 while the increase on the second bracket – up to LL1.5 million- would include the first LL400,000 plus a 9 percent raise.

However, Nahhas’ reservations are over the transportation allowance, which he argues, should be included in the minimum wage for the Shura council will turn down any plan that puts the allowance outside the minimum salary because such a move contradicts the labor law.

But when the issue was put to vote on Wednesday at the cabinet session, his proposal won the support of 10 ministers while 19 voted against it.

Nahhas would travel outside Lebanon thus avoiding the possibility of signing the allowance decree by referring the matter to acting Labor Minister Nicolas Fattoush.

Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas expressed satisfaction over the wage boost settlement that “ended a controversial issue.”

“The important thing is that the people were paid their raises after we reached a formula and overcame useless disputes,” he said.