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The German Center published an analytical study on the Lebanese labor market based on findings of a World Bank study which revealed that the required jobs in the country are mostly centered around the technical, professional and administrative sectors. According to the study, the argument of absence of harmony between the needed and offered skills is quite weak. Certain sectors, the study analyzed, boast development competences to accommodate a larger workforce, like for example: agriculture, construction and real estate, transportation and logistics, banking and finance, tourism and hospitality, health, IT, communication and the media, fashion and jewellery, renewable energy and waste recycling industries. These sectors which currently employ around 50% of the labor force and are responsible for nearly 50% of the gross domestic product, yet, given their demanding nature, have potential to accommodate more. The study stressed the importance of small enterprises as they represent closely 90% of the registered companies and influence the lives of half of the declared employees in the country. Moreover, the study continued, in the absence of focused or specialized incentives for the small and medium enterprises, an informal labor market has emerged. As such, figures have shown an increasing participation in the labor market of the population residing in Lebanon, excluding university graduates. The study further raised questions whether the cause is the Lebanese ‘immigration model” or the lack of motivation or incentives in the labor market or a combination of both. Besides, the study maintained, the domestic labor market simply does not generate sufficient employment prospects, and during the coming decade, some 23 thousand job seekers are expected to enter the market annually, at a time the number of jobs created during the past 10 years did not exceed 12 to 15 thousand jobs (!?). Finally, while noting that the growing aspirations by women for work require creating more job opportunities, the solution should address the structural problem in the labor market and the factors that affect the existing unemployment trend, the study cautioned, concluding that proposals for resolving the problem should not be limited to the control of the labor market. (Al Akhbar, September 8, 2016)

 

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The American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce announced during a press conference in Beirut yesterday that it is organizing a ‘Start Up Lebanon-Silicon Valley Roadshow’ between September 12 and 17 in collaboration with Startup Megaphone. The scheduled field trips by the delegation of emerging enterprises will cover the large  tech companies in the capital of the American technology. Some 30 startups are participating, besides representatives of the Central Bank of Lebanon, the Financial Markets Committee, Micro Venture Capital Funds, as well as concerned lawyers and business people. The aim of the visit, according to the Chamber’s Chair, Salim Zenni, is to introduce the Lebanese startups in the sector to the best experiences notably in the domains of investment, business accelerators and investment guidance. This, Zenni added, helps open doors for the young generation of Lebanon to venture and sell their innovations globally, in addition to facilitate communication with interested investment funds. The visit, Zenni pointed out, will cover Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, Instagram, Google, SAP and Startups 500 and will include business meetings with their heads. The Lebanese delegation is also scheduled to partake in the European Innovation Day at LinkedIn. The US ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, expressed her government’s commitment to support economic prosperity in Lebanon through the Lebanon Value Chain Development Program or the present initiative. (As Safir, Al Hayat, the Daily Star, An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, September 8, 2016)

 

In the framework of regulating the work of agencies recruiting migrant women domestic workers MWDWs, the Lebanese labor ministry issued a new directive yesterday ordering the closure of a number of violating offices. The ministry’s statement listed the names of the above offices as follows: As Saha Co for general services, Al Mustaqbal for Services, Al Jad Co for General Trade, Noor for General Trade and Services, Al Lubnaniya for General Services and Srinka Services. As a result of investigations, the labor ministry statement went on to say, the majority of problems have been detected with workers who have been brought in through illegal dealers. (Al Diyar, September 8, 2016)

 

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Labor ministry shuts down MWDW recruiting agencies

 

The vice president of the Higher Islamic Shiite Council, Sheikh Abdel Amir Kablan, chair of the board of trustees of the Islamic University in Lebanon, appointed Dr. Dina Mawla president of the university as successor to Dr. Hassan Shalabi. Mawla, to be noted, holds a PHD in law from Montpelier University since 2004 and has occupied a number of academic and research positions, including the following: the director of the French branch of the Lebanese University School of Law from 2011 to 2015; a member of the Joint Committee, professor of master of strategic studies at the Lebanese Army Center for Studies and Research, professor at the Military School; foreign relations officer at the LU School of Law and Political Sciences; chair of the Center for Research and Academic Cooperation; a member in the Parliamentary committee deliberating a draft ‘mediation legislation’; a member in the Higher University Committee for Programs and Curricula; a member in the Special Law Committee and member in the Research Committee. Mawla has also paneled numerous doctorate and master defense thesis and has participated in a large number of conferences in addition to having many publications in specialized international journals. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, September 8, 2016)

 

In a special feature on September 2, L’Orien Le Jour portrayed the life of students coming from rural areas and staying inside university dorms better known as foyer houses, with special focus on women and their capacity to adjust to new circumstances and to roommates or classmates from different environs and communities. On the subject, the newspaper interviewed a number of girls who had to leave their villages to follow up their studies, particularly the disciplines that are not easy to get at nearby college branches. Some students, while admitting the tough new life in the city and the challenge of dealing with diverse mentalities and lifestyles, disclosed that they would have never left their families if they found their desired specialty close to where they live. Adila Lakkis, for example, said she had to move from Batroon to Fanar suburbia of Beirut to study public relations and Joanna Sayyid Ahmad left Tripoli to specialize in speech therapy. Other girls boasted to the newspaper’s reporter that living independently was a splendid experience of freedom away from home. Besides, L’Orient Le Jour cited a number of women  students who lamented the difficulties they encounter every day, mostly the feeling of home-sickness or having to attend to uncalled for duties, like the provision of food and similar living allowances. Others interviewees spoke of the hardships of adaptation to a completely new environment particularly in terms of reconciling and coping with widely diverse standards outside their social norms and prejudiced thoughts. (For more about the article in French, please check: http://bit.ly/2bXFq0o). (L’Orient Le Jour, September 2, 2016)

 

The “Mubadarat” development association organized the apple festivities of Mayruba, September 4 and 5, under the slogan, ‘apples are key to health’. The aim was to bring to light this vital sector of economy in Upper Keserwan and its neighbouring districts and highlight the diverse apple-processed beverage and food products. Some 40 establishments, cooperatives and individuals participated showcasing their assorted items, in addition to the presence of the agriculture and industry ministries and the state-run Lebanese University School of Agriculture. On the occasion, Mubadarat president, Farid Khazen, drew attention to the prolonged suffering of Lebanese farmers and agriculture, urging the government to compensate apple growers or buy their harvest similar to other agricultures and crops. Meanwhile, the festivals continue: the town of Ghosta in Keserwan organised its second summer music and joy fiesta, including concerts and an annual free rural dinner, similarly the municipality of Jadra in Iqlim al Kharub held last week a village banquet in the courtyard of the St George Church. In the South, the National Gathering for Culture, Environment and Heritage in coordination with the Federation of Municipalities of Mount Hermon and al Aqaba-Rashaya Club organized the Lebanese Heritage and Folklore 2016 festival in Rashaya under the motto ‘independence, spirit and culture’; while the municipality of Kfar Hamam held its 2-day ‘pine wedding’ festival in the town’s square. Finally and further to the north, the Guidance and Solidarity Club ended the ‘Bayno Summer festivities’ 2016 with an outstanding painting expo by children. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 7, 8, 2016)

 

The agriculture minister, Akram Shehayeb, has called off a week ago an earlier decision issued on June 9 halting the import of vegetables, fruits and similar products from Syria until the end of 2017 (http://bit.ly/2aBdRaC), stating its countless adverse repercussions on local farmers. Justifying the decision, Shehayeb explained that banning the entry of agricultural goods from the neighbouring country has failed to protect Lebanese farmers and local production, and has, as well, stepped up smuggling activities along the borders with total disregard from the security authorities. Speaking to Al Jumhuriyah newspaper, Shehayeb said he has released a new directive to regulate exports which require an import permit on products coming from Syria, supplemented with the necessary laboratory tests to prevent any potential health hazards on citizens. The minister made clear that prior licenses apply only to products that are needed here in Lebanon. As such, he said, licenses would not be given for example for olive oil, white cheeses, apples, grapes or potatoes, as domestic production is sufficient to meet local demand. He pointed out that the issue of licensing is seasonal and depends on market needs, stressing that determining what kind of goods that should not be allowed into the country is done in collaboration with the relevant agricultural cooperatives and syndicates. In a related vein, minister Shehayeb revealed that Lebanese industrialists wishing to export their products to Syria are facing difficulties and provocation in an angry reaction to the earlier decision from the Lebanese side, while, he added, illegal border crossings have flourished, especially in Akkar and Hermel. Immense quantities of made-in-Syria goods enter daily in the absence of security control, Shehayeb maintained, disclosing that Customs authorities have been notified of the new decision. (L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, September 7, 2016)

 

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Syrian objection to the banning of fruit and vegetables imports to Lebanon

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/syrian-objection-banning-fruit-and-vegetables-imports-lebanon

Lebanese exports fall by 30% because of trouble in exporting to Syria

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/lebanese-exports-fall-30-because-trouble-exporting-syria

Can unilateral protectionism save Lebanon’s declining agricultural sector?

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/can-unilateral-protectionism-save-lebanon%E2%80%99s-declining-agricultural-sector

 

The Association for the Protection of Jabal Mussa (APJM) inaugurated yesterday its workshop in the town of Jouret Tormos in the presence of UNESCO- Man and the Biosphere program representative, Zina Iskandarani, and UNESCO representatives George Tohmeh and Ghassan Jradi, as well as members of local municipal boards and mayors and women producers from the area. The newly-created venue which is funded by the Drosos Foundation of Switzerland comprises a central kitchen for processing rural and traditional mooneh, a seed laboratory supported by BLC bank, in addition to a conference and training hall. During the opening ceremony, the APJM president Pierre Dumet revealed that around 14 thousand persons have visited Jabal Mussa in 2015, which as he said, is a great incentive for the inhabitants and the guesthouses that are happy to receive them and provide them with an assortment of mooneh and artisan items produced at the workshop. For her part, Iskandarani said she hoped “Lebanon will take the lead in the Arab network for the Man and the Biosphere Programme, especially given the serious endeavor as acknowledged by the UN organization and the emulation of this effort in other Arab countries with the contribution of the Lebanese expertise.” Tohmeh, on the other hand, stressed the role of the association and the supportive efforts of the local community, notably women and the youth. (Al Mustaqbal, Sept 6, 2016)

 

 

Pursuant to the law suit filed against the Modern Mills of Lebanon (Matahin Lubnan al H7aditha) by civil society groups which ended in shutting down the establishment upon a court decision last July for non-compliance with food standards (http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/15351), Al Akhbar newspaper revealed, that the company, in clear defiance of the judge’s verdict, resumed work supported by a counter agriculture ministry report stating that it meets required standards. The said report, prepared by four ministry employees, has been proved fake, as per Al Akhbar newspaper, which noted that the final decision will be taken after the end of the legal yearly vacation. (for more info on the enquiry, follow the link below: (http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/263668).

In a similar vein, food poisoning incidents continue to be reported despite the on-going food safety campaign launched by the ministry of health. In this respect, the latter announced last week that a team of the ministry is following up such incidents and the associated medical tests after 7 cases have been registered in Baalbaq, specifically at Zahrat Lubnan restaurant. The restaurant was closed until the publishing of test results on chicken samples, as well as samples taken from “Farruj al Sayyed” meat house in Zahleh, the meat supplier of the above restaurant. Meanwhile, health ministry inspectors shut down a number of violating establishments in the following areas: Mreijeh, Tahwitat al Ghadir, Haret Hreik, Shiyah, Saida, Ghazieh, Baaleshmeih, Kfarshima, Obadieh, Khaldeh, Zahleh, Bawshrieh and the Tal in Tripoli. (For the complete list of closed establishments, please visit the following link: ((http://bit.ly/2c2xbxk)

 

The 18-year-old Raw3a, from the Syrian town of Raqa and residing in Kadmous, Tyre in South Lebanon, became a new victim of domestic violence after being slain by her two brothers at her parents’ house on the pretext of honor killing! In the details, Rawaa was in love with a man her clan did not approve of. This prompted her to leave her house and head to the Beirut suburb of Uzai where her future partner lives to get married to him. But, as this step did not satisfy the girl’s family, they decided to "avenge their honor". According to sources close to the victim, it was agreed that the husband’s family pay an amount of LBP 3 million as a dowry or marriage settlement to the bride’s family and a reception date was set (yesterday). However, the sources reportedly added, the reconciliation between the two sides did not hold up more than one day as it turned out to be a trap to lure the girl to return home. After committing the crime, Raw3a’s brother Ibrahim, prime convict, turned himself in to the security forces and his other brother Ahmad was subsequently arrested with the rest of family members. Later, criminal investigation and police squad members showed up at the crime scene to collect evidence while a forensic pathologist examined the victim’s body. The house was subsequently sealed with red wax. (Al Akhbar, As Safir, An Nahar, September 6, 2016)

 

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