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Al Akhbar highlighted on Saturday the new unified work contract for migrant men and women domestic workers in the works by the labor ministry. The latter, the newspaper wrote, has decided to adjust the kafala system (sponsorship) rather than abolish altogether a system which enslaves thousands of workers. On the subject, FENASOL president, Castro Abdallah, described to Al Akhbar the ministry’s accomplishment as an “incomplete move” or a “failed attempt” on its part giving two main reasons for that. The first, is that instead of redrafting the contract, the ministry should have amended the labor law, specifically Article 7, which excludes domestic workers as a profession like any other. Secondly, the contract itself is obviously “unfinished” in the absence of the primary party, workers, or representatives of them, from the meetings to this end. Over and above, the contract exposes weaknesses in terms of the mechanisms aimed to ensure the proper implementation of its provisions, expounded Abdallah. Likewise, Farah Salka of the Anti-Racism Movement, said there is no need for roundtable discussions or a unified contract to reframe kafala system which should be totally annulled. Nothing, she maintained, can be reformed in a system that enslaves the worker. The representative of KAFA organization, lawyer Mohana Isaac, for her part, noted that changing the work contract is not a solution to the dilemma. It is like putting a good face on a bad situation if not accompanied by other steps. These include, beside the amendment of the labor code, the development of clear mechanisms to monitor and put in practice provisos stipulated in the contract. (More info in the link below: https://bit.ly/3eN6nlu). (Al Akhbar, June 27, 2020)
 

The minister of agriculture and culture, Abbas Mortada, voiced his concern yesterday over the deteriorating situation where daily bread has become like gold dust under a government unable to meet the demands of its people. Mortada was speaking during the graduation ceremony of some 100 students of the Agriculture School organized by the Lebanese Organization for Studies and Training (LOST) at the agricultural village in Baalbeck. We have set off with good intentions and sailed through crises, facing financial and economic breakdown, Mortada said. He pointed out that food security and food sovereignty have become harder to achieve in the absence of a strong founded national economy. “We have relied on a rentier, unsustainable and unproductive economic system,” he added. “But despite the difficult journey, the government is trying to invent solutions and provide services,” Mortada stated. He expressed disbelief over Lebanon’s signing of agreements to import certain agricultural commodities of which the sector suffers a surplus in production. Pledging to increase subsidized agricultural inputs, Mortada concluded by saying: “The ministry will regulate the importer-to-farmer distribution chain.” (Al Diyar, June 29, 2020)
 

As part of initiatives to boost food security, Jihad Al Bina2 launched recently the “Farmers Market” project in the Southern Suburbs of Beirut, Tyre and Hermel areas to encourage farmer-to-consumer direct marketing. Speaking to Al Akhbar daily, the general director of Jihad Al Binaa, Mohamad Khansa, said the venture will begin with three markets as a first phase, revealing that the purpose is to help farmers who are actually the weakest and most vulnerable link in the food supply chain and to sustain food sovereignty as a fundamental part of national sovereignty. Khansa explained that Lebanon imports nearly 85% of its basic goods (80% of meats and livestock for slaughter; 50% of animal-based white products; 100% of yellow cheeses and butter and around 50% of fish and sea food). The fiscal policy, he stressed, has been hushing up the crisis, but now after the coronavirus, “everything has come into the open and we are at risk of a major food crisis,” as he said. Nonetheless, Khansa added, the ordeal was an eye opener for many, raising societal awareness on seeking food sovereignty in the place of fast profit and consumption behavior. Food, he maintained, is not an ordinary commodity, but rather a political security one that cannot be subject to supply and demand. In other words, in food terms, one cannot afford to choose low-cost import over high-cost production. Bottom line, basic crops are sovereign commodities that are not benchmarked according to economic profit only. In conclusion, Khansa disclosed that Jihad al Bina2 and Hezbollah have tried to lobby the state to actively take part in increasing grain production, but their attempts were hampered by bureaucratic difficulties. He added that available areas for cultivation, can go a long way towards self-sufficiency and food security if a clear agro-food strategy is adopted, and thus loosen Lebanon dependency on international trade. In conclusion, it is worth mentioning that currently, and on average, the share of a single Lebanese farmer out of each LBP 1000 paid for any kind of vegetables or fruit is a mere LBP 190. (For more, kindly refer to the following link: https://bit.ly/3hZJ9L7). (Al Akhbar, June 25, 2020)
 
 

With EU- financial support and in partnership with UNICEF, the Ministry of Social Affairs (MOSA) launched on June 24 its Strategic Plan for the Protection of Women and Children for the period 2020-2027. The above plan focuses on strengthening MOSA’s leadership and regulatory role in child protection and protection against gender-based violence, as well as ensuring coordination and integration between the public and private sectors, including civil society, to secure the delivery of comprehensive and quality services for target groups. This will reportedly contribute to reinforcing the national system for the prevention and response to child protection violations and gender-based violence. On the occasion, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon, Yukie Mokuo, pointed out that the plan constitutes a roadmap for the ministry to move forward in committing to the protection of women and children. It also represents an exceptional opportunity to streamline efforts across the Lebanese government, civil society organizations and private sector partners, with the support of the international community to this effect. For his part, minister Ramsey Mcharafieh, said the protection of women and children from all nationalities, Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian, is an ethical and humanitarian duty and a firm commitment rather than an option. “I am committed to protect women and children against any form of violence or discrimination, respecting their rights, upholding their interests and defending them in both words and action,” Mcharafieh stated. )An Nahar, June 24, 2020(
 

In its issue of today, Al Akbar newspaper wrote that Lebanese officials are busy talking about food security, while overlooking the urgency of salvaging the Litani River from the waste waterways flowing from nearby households, factories and farms. At the same time, they are negligent about protecting their agricultural basins through adjusting the parameters and preventing any change to land classification. The newspaper stressed that it is not possible to look into any food security strategy without treating the polluted waters of the Qaroun Lake. Over and above, the Litani irrigation projects are now threatened to discontinue due to environmental and funding difficulties. According to Al Akhbar, the Litani River Authority currently invests in three irrigation systems, namely (Qasimiyeh, Saida and Jezzine, in addition to the irrigation plan for South West Bekaa area), but the Lebanese state opts, as always, to prioritise import at the expense of sustainable development solutions. Like for example, the government is faltering in the implementation of the law stipulating the allocation of funds for land expropriation in the Litani basin from the source to the river mouth at a value of LBP 1100. The government also wavers in implementing a scheme to reduce Qaroun pollution based on a loan agreement of USD 55 million with the World Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Speaking to Al Akhbar, the director of the Litani River Authority, Sammy Alawiyeh, voiced his fear that the first phase of the project might not be completed by 2021. The said project is anticipated to irrigate around 13,000 hectares benefiting 102 villages and towns in the area. Alawiyeh stressed the role the Arab and Kuwaiti Funds in funding the second phase as well. “We cannot discuss food security in the gutter,” he concluded. For more, kindly review the following link: https://bit.ly/383AmmM). (Al Akhbar, June 23, 2020)