Cabinet approved on Thursday the regulations at the petroleum authority, while introducing amendments to the salaries of its employees

Cabinet approved on Thursday the regulations at the petroleum authority, while introducing amendments to the salaries of its employees.

Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour said at the end of the last session of 2012 that the salaries will be lowered from L.L.36 million to L.L.25 million, according to Naharnet.

The government had approved on November 27 the six members of the authority in an effort to speed up the exploitation of Lebanon's offshore oil wealth.

Abou Faour also revealed that the cabinet will convene on January 3 in order to tackle the file of Syrian and Palestinian refugees flowing into Lebanon from neighboring Syria.

Earlier on Thursday, An Nahar daily reported that Energy Minister Jebran Bassil's proposal concerning the salaries of the appointed six-member petroleum authority would be confronted by several ministers.

"The salaries proposed for the petroleum authority members are normal in comparison with workers in the international petroleum sector," Bassil told reporters before entering the session.

He had previously suggested that the monthly salary of each member of the authority be fixed to nearly $24,000 to motivate them to remain in their positions and not be drawn to offers by private international companies.