BEIRUT: A number of public transportation drivers held a strike in Beirut Thursday, gathering at Dora roundabout to protest against the failure of the government to carry out a subsidy deal agreed upon earlier this year.

The strike, organized by the Public Transportation Drivers Union, caused heavy traffic on Lebanon's main highway, as taxi and bus drivers marched from the roundabout to Nahr al-Mot bridge, north of Beirut.

Former Finance Minister Raya Hasan struck a deal with public transportation drivers in May to provide taxi and truck drivers with a monthly subsidy of LL470,000 and LL350,000 respectively. The deal ended a scheduled nationwide strike. However, no payments were ever made under the scheme.

In a statement released Thursday, the union asked Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to hold an exceptional parliamentary session to approve the subsidy plan under the current Cabinet and asked Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi to implement it.

The union also asked the Interior Ministry to crack down on illegal behavior in the sector and create a plan to reform the industry.

"[The union] asks the interior minister to carry out a plan that would better organize the public transportation sector, stop drivers with unauthorized licensed plates and prevent foreigners from working in the Lebanese public transportation sector,” the statement said

It added that Thursday’s strike was merely a warning and said it would be forced to take severe measures if the government did not comply with its demands. 

The Confederation of Land Transport and Taxi Drivers in Lebanon has also announced that it will join a planned strike over the failed subsidy deal planned by the Coalition of Drivers’ Unions for Sept. 15.

As of Wednesday, 98-octane graded gasoline now costs LL35,600 while the 95 octane graded fuel costs LL34,900. Diesel now costs LL39,300, according to a statement from the Energy and Water Resources Ministry.