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The minister of labor, Lamia Yammin, on Friday discussed with a delegation of Women Leaders Council of Lebanon (WLC) the challenges facing the private sector. The WLC, to recall, has submitted a draft proposal aimed at developing a mechanism of cooperation between the private and the public sectors in all arenas, hoping to engage in discussions conducted by the ministry to amend the labor law and reduce the rate of participation in the National Social Security Fund proportionately with the reduction in wages. In a statement to this effect, the WLC stressed the significance of the continued viability and performance of companies and laborers, and the need to exempt employers from the payment of taxes as of the last quarter of 2019 through the year 2020. This measure could be adjusted according to developments, the statement added. The delegation also demanded that daily workers not be registered in the Social Security Fund, but that their status be disclosed only to the finance department, while taxes be paid in relevance to the income tax. As for work contracts signed exclusively in US dollars, in the event of the change of the official exchange rate, they will be calculated according to the official rate assigned by the Banque du Liban, while disregarding the market rate at the date of signing the contracts related to the Social Security Fund subscriptions and the end-of-service benefits. (Al Diyar, May 23, 2020)
 

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar wrote, through Sophia Maternity initiative, Joanna Nawfal works to help new first time parents prepare for the birth and post-natal stage. Besides the workshops and courses it offers, Nawfal has an Instagram account which provides useful info to this end, Al Akhbar reported. In the time of Corona, Al Akhbar said, a large part of the work of Sophia Maternity has become virtual, particularly interviews, which now can be followed remotely. In this respect, the newspaper pointed out that film director Nadine Labaki will be the guest of Sophia Maternity in a live debate “From heart to heart” which takes place on May 27, 8 pm, through the Zoom application. Labaki is expected to speak about her personal experience breastfeeding her two sons, Walid and Miron, in order to underline the importance of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child, especially in a country displaying low rates of breastfeeding. (Al Akhbar, May 22, 2020)
 

In her follow up on the conditions of foreign workers in Lebanon, the minister of labor, Lamya Yammin met yesterday with a delegation of the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut led by the Charge d’Affaires. The meeting focused on regulating the sector and the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers from the Ethiopian nationality to their country. Yammin also discussed challenges workers face as a result of the distressing circumstances inflicted by the Corona pandemic. She stressed the need to coordinate with the ministry in order to safeguard the rights of foreign laborers. To be noted that the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers has started today according to a joint decision between the government and the concerned embassies which indicated their willingness to host their citizens.  According to Al Akhbar newspapers, this will allow local employers to do away with their dues vis-a-vis their former employees especially simce many have stopped paying their wages following the rise in the value of USD. (Al Diyar, May 20, 2020)
 
 

The ninth edition of the Femme Francophone Entrepreneur 2020 competition was held last Monday in Beirut notwithstanding the situation with the Corona pandemic. The competition to recall, is annually organized by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and Berytech, in partnership with L’Orient Le Jour and Le Commerce du Levant. A statement by the organizers said this year’s edition presents a novel concept of the competition entailing three categories: research, technological innovation and social entrepreneurship. It rewards three projects involving the creation of an enterprise, the statement mentioned, adding, three winners will benefit from the necessary accompaniment to start up a company under the umbrella of Berytech business incubator. The competition which promotes women’s entrepreneurship in Lebanon offers a prize worth of 20,000 euros every year distributed among the winning projects. Reminding, that the deadline for the submission of applications is June 10, 2020. More information on the following link: https://competitions.berytech.org/ffe/. (NNA, May 18, 2020)
 

A meeting was held Saturday at the Bcharre Municipal Palace to discuss community and individual agricultural initiatives and their practical impact on the farmers of the Caza. Participants called for coordination among all local stakeholders to confront the distressing economic and living conditions the country is going through. It was agreed to form an agricultural follow-up committee to support farmers and spread awareness on good agricultural practices and extension to the end of increasing crop production, improve its quality and reduce water waste. Concurrently, the Chouf Cedar Reserve announced the launch of multiple initiatives to promote home gardens and the cultivation of long-neglected lands to face food insecurity and scarcity of resources this year and keep the wheels of economy turning. A number of guidelines were issued by the Reserve wishing the local residents and farmers to observe. These include, cutting down on excessive use of household water in order to use for irrigation; the adoption of drip irrigation and the use of natural organic and not chemical nutrients for crops. Similarly, former minister Hassan Murad said in a tweet: “A nation that is dependent on its land does not starve. It eats what it grows.” To this effect, around 100,000 seedlings were distributed among families wishing to eat what they grow. (Al Diyar, May 18, 2020)