The proposed increases aroused the wrath of the Lebanese people who believe that public authorities in Lebanon do not need any extra benefits as most of them are men of remarkable private wealth, not to mention that their current indemnities and allocations are far higher than the salaries paid to the rest of employees within the public sector. On the other hand, numerous members of Parliament voiced their displeasure with this campaign, counter-arguing that their pay remains incommensurate with the burdens and social duties they sustain and lower than the salaries and indemnities paid to parliamentarians in foreign countries.

Evolution of MPs’ Indemnities and Allocations

The indemnities and allocations of Lebanese MPs have grown exponentially in the past few decades. As of July 1 of 1986, each MP was assigned LBP 55 000 per month, an amount, which rose to LBP 887 037 following the collapse of the Lebanese currency. The monthly minimum wage was set later at LBP 75 000 by virtue of Law No. 108 issued on November 7, 1991, while the indemnities and allocations became LBP 1 419 260 as of January 1, 1991. This amount increased to LBP 1 951 482, starting December 1, 1991.

In 1994, the minimum wage was raised to LBP 200 000 in accordance with Law No. 372, dated August 1, 1994, while deputies’ benefits were hiked to LBP 2 793 400 and further to LBP 3 352 100 when the minimum wage reached LBP 250 000 in 1995.

Since 1999 to date, the indemnities and allocations have grown to LBP 8 500 000 every month, in addition to LBP 2 700 000 for social assistance, which brings the total up to LBP 11 200 000 as illustrated in the following Tables 1 and 2.

The MPs’ indemnities and allocations were 26 and 37.3 times the minimum wage in 1991 and 1999 respectively. Currently, they stand at 22.4 times the minimum wage.

Source: Public budgets (1991-2008)

Source: Public budget

NB: The social assistance worth LBP 2 700 000 per month has been added to the indemnities and allocations since 1995.

Indemnities and Allocations Assigned to Former MPs

Law No. 25 issued on September 24, 1974 granted former MPs a percentage of the indemnities and allocations paid to serving MPs.

• MPs elected for a single tenure are entitled to 55% of the allocations and indemnities assigned to serving MPs.
• MPs elected for a two consecutive tenures are entitled to 65% of the allocations and indemnities assigned to serving MPs.
• MPs elected for three or more tenures are entitled to 75% of the allocations and indemnities assigned to serving MPs.

Should the beneficiary (former MP) die, his family (wife, sons under 25 years old and single, divorced or widowed daughters) is entitled to receive 75% of the indemnities and allocations he was assigned.

Any MP who dies during his first tenure is automatically considered as having served three tenures.

Salaries and Indemnities of MPs in Western Countries

The following Table 3 illustrates the salary and indemnities paid to each MP in a number of western countries as compared to the minimum wage.

Source: Official websites of the respective countries

Salaries and Indemnities of MPs in Arab and Middle-Eastern Countries

The following Table 4 illustrates the salary and indemnities paid to each MP in a number of Arab and Middle-Eastern countries as compared to the minimum wage.

Source: Official websites of the respective countries

Comparison and Conclusion

Some of the above countries have the same standard of living as Lebanon while others enjoy far better living conditions. Yet, the salaries and indemnities assigned to MPs are at maximum 16 times the respective minimum wages. In Lebanon though, an MP’s allocations and indemnities exceed that level to reach as high as 22 times if the minimum wage is set at LBP 500 000. However, pushing the minimum wage up to LBP 675 000 might result in hiking each MP’s indemnities and allocations to LBP 15 450 000, i.e. 23 times the minimum wage. Thus, the pay channeled to our deputies may be classified as the highest worldwide when compared to the minimum wage in each country.