Social welfare scheme presented by the Minister of Labor Charbel Nahas

Minister of Labor Charbel Nahas proposes to decrease employers’ contribution to the NSSF in exchange for establishing universal healthcare funded by taxes on real estate profit, interest income, and other rent-based activities. Though the plan was adopted by the Council of Ministers, the General Federation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) expressed severe opposition to Nahas’ proposal, as it would compete with the role of the NSSF and its functioning. Nahas’ social welfare scheme was ultimately not adopted, and Nahas resigned shortly after. This is considered to be the first main attempt to reform the social protection schemes towards a universal system.