News

During a press conference held yesterday at the Agriculture Ministry, the Social and Economic Fund for Development (ESFD), the General Directorate of Cooperatives (GDC) and the National Union of Cooperative Associations signed a protocol of cooperation under the patronage of Minister Akram Shehayeb and with the presence of various concerned dignitaries. The purpose of the said protocol is to develop a framework of collaboration between the three parties in the domains of research, planning and training, in addition to launching cooperative stimulating initiatives. Accordingly, the ESFD will afford the expertise required in training and specialized technical assistance after the completion of the necessary studies and relevant assessment. As per the protocol, the ESFD role complements the responsibilities and annual programs of the GDC in agreement with the plans set by the Union of Cooperatives targeting the overall coops sector. The overall purpose of the agreement is to design a comprehensive training program for implementation through establishing temporary or permanent centers, and to draw a proper program for funding projects generated by cooperatives and to create exhibition facilities to market their products. 

(Al Diyar, September 1, 2016)

 

The chronic problem of unemployment in Lebanon, is deep-rooted in the national economy, affects the lives of the Lebanese people, and undermines their future, which should have prompted serious and effective approaches to address the problem. Such serious approaches are urgently needed instead of superficial approach to largely blaming the crisis on foreign workforce, particularly the Syrians or the piecemeal proposals that do not radically address the problem. On the latter, the World Bank has recently issued a report on ‘work prospects for north Lebanon’ with a road map to overcome the economic challenges in that part of the country through the creation of new business opportunities on the short, medium and long terms. There is a need for at least some 21 thousand jobs or what is equivalent to 4 thousand jobs every year over the course of five years to redress the situation, the WB report stated. The World Bank report indicated that the economy of North Lebanon suffers from considerable weaknesses in the agriculture and real-estate sectors, adding that about 90% of labor force is active in the informal sector. (For more on the report in Arabic, please check: http://bit.ly/2c3jhyB). In a parallel vein, the president of the North Lebanon Traders Association, Asaad Hariri, drew attention to inconsistencies and contradictions in some of the official positions, hinting to the latest announcement by foreign minister Jibran Bassil who stated that some 17 thousand vacancies are currently present in the ministries and public departments across Lebanon. Hariri stigmatized politicians for doing nothing is done to tackle the issue (: http://bit.ly/2bDZmHf ). Meanwhile, referring to the issue, the Lebanese Forces Unions’ Section said in a statement issued yesterday that the Lebanese workers face numerous challenges every day to secure a decent and dignified living especially while confronting fears of joblessness. According to the LF, available data point out to an unprecedented rise in the number of laid employees, with 2210 persons thrown out of their jobs since the start of 2016, stating that foreign competition, notably from Syrian workers, is the main cause. “We shall not tolerate any situation that does not ensure the rights of Lebanese laborers and protect them from becoming refugees in their own country,” the statement concluded. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, August 30, September 1, 2016)

 

Following the recent resentment expressed by the local banking sector over the negative figures posted by the Union of Arab Banks and the International Finance Corporation pointing to a fall in emigrants remittances to the country in the past two years (:http://bit.ly/2bZCPnv) , the Central Bank of Lebanon (CBL) early this week issued a report clarifying the economic performance of the country in 2015. The report which read ‘the scene of the monetary policy of the Bank of Lebanon’ presented a synopsis of the macro-economic conditions in the country, maintaining a slowdown in expatriate money flowing into Lebanon (falling to nearly USD 7.16 billion during 2015). The report also indicated contractions in the export and investment activity, leading to a mounting deficit in the balance of payments (USD 3 billion). The Central Bank’s analysis highlighted the impact of political, social and security tensions affecting economic performance, and recording a growth rate lower than 1%, and a high level of public debt reaching nearly 148.7% of Gross Domestic Product. 

(Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, August 29, 31, 2016)

 

Previous related news: 

News of decline of remittances and transfers provoke bankers

USD188 billion in bank assets while Lebanon still survives on transfers of expatriates

 

The vice-President of the National Committee for the Follow-Up on Women’s Issues (NCFUWI), Afifa Sayyid, expressed yesterday her disappointment over the results of this year’s municipal elections in terms of women representation notwithstanding all the efforts that have been made in this direction. The outcomes, Sayyid mentioned, were not markedly different that those of the former elections of 2010. Sayyid was speaking during the joint assessment day organized by NCFUWI and ABAAD association, under the heading, ‘a review of the municipal elections… women’s success and the pervasive obstacles’. The OXFAM-supported event, was aimed to discuss ways of improving and strengthening women participation in elections, knowledge exchange and planning for the future. Participants reviewed digital data on women’s shares in the latest municipal elections based on a study prepared by both organizing parties.  OXFAM program director, Viviane Korsten, considered that this year’s elections have seen the participation of some 1519 women nominees, at a 13% increase from the 2010 elections. Korsten maintained that this was positive although women represent hardly 6.9% of the total number of candidates. For her part, Fahmiyeh Charefiddine, the NCFUWI president, said political participation of women is a priority to realize gender equality, as it is the only way to restore their rights, stating that alienating women from public administration is both a political and cultural orientation. (Al Mustaqbal, August 31, 2016)

 

The Christian NGO for employment, LABORA, held yesterday the 8th annual meeting for its network of delegates at St. Antonio- Baabda Monastery in the presence of over 63 representatives of collaborative Christian factions, municipalities, universities, schools and establishments across the country. On the occasion, the private sector officer, Elie Shayya, showcased the respective figures and shares of companies cooperating with LABORA, in addition to job applicants (around 15508 persons between May 2008 and August 15, 2016), and the persons who were successfully recruited by the association (nearly 4564 individuals). Shaaya also pointed out to some 6359 wanted jobs centering around the following fields: administration, sales, accounting, technicians and drivers. Similarly, Maroon Najem, director of the training and development section at LABORA, illustrated with the help of figures the accomplishments of his department, enumerating the different training courses completed throughout the present year and upcoming workshops, and a roundup of 1912 participants and trainees in 2015. The meeting included a lecture on education programs vs. labor market requirements, as well as an outline of the delegates section presented by the director of the public and guidance sector, Jerjes Semaan. The latter called for adopting and activating a strategy that regulates the work of delegates and organizes cooperation with the various parties involved with the aim to increase the pool of job applicants. Towards the end, LABORA President, father Toni Khadra, indicated that the problem has transcended the dilemma of restoring equilibrium in the number of Christian state employees, to a more sophisticated and pervasive corruption crisis. He mentioned that some deputies and ministers in the government do not observe or implement the decisions of the Central Inspection, the Shura Council or the Council of Civil Service and other similar departments, hence giving way to discretion rather than the implementation of the law. (Al Diyar, August 31, 2016)

 

In the framework of the regional program ‘HEYA’, the Lebanese Women Democratic Gathering (LWDG) organized yesterday a round table on ‘women trafficking in Lebanon’ at the municipality of Saida in the South. The program aims at supporting women in leadership, in partnership with the International Development Academy-MENA region and funds from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. In its opening speech, LWDG-Saida branch officer Bana Samra pointed out that the gathering has been jointly working with other democratic groups to help empower women in order to face all forms of discrimination against them and so as to realize gender equality.” Likewise, HEYA coordinator in Lebanon, Hayat Mershad, underlined the significance of the program in increasing the level of participation of women in public arenas leading to sustainable and just changes in legislations and policies to this effect, while not excluding the most vulnerable and marginalized of women. For his part, MP Michel Musa, citing the international report on human trafficking by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes, said that 70% of victims are women and girls. Mussa added that trafficking that trafficking has multiple faces, notably, prostitution and exploiting women in promoting and publicizing of goods, as well as the marriage of minors. Mousa while mentioning the inadequacy of laws which only tend to support penal measures, pressed the need for devising preventive and protective mechanisms to help the victims. In conclusion, colonel Elie Asmar underscored the role of the internal security forces in identifying the victims of human trafficking in order to dismantle the criminal mafia networks. (An Nahar, August 31, 2016)

 

As part of local community development initiatives undertaken in rural areas, the municipality of Duma, in cooperation with Lebanon Mountain Trail and Douma Festivals Committee, launched last Sunday the side track of the mountain trail in the town, located in the caza of Batroon. This came as part of the Lebanon Industry Value Chain Development (LIVCD) project funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The Duma side track (about 13.5 kms) is one of many paths the Mountain Trail association is seeking to create in collaboration with local municipalities to revive rural tourism, through trekking and hiking, while highlighting the charm of Mount Lebanon countryside. In the same vein, and as part of the 2016 summer activities organized by the municipality, the Pottery Artisans Coop in Rashayya Fokhar concluded yesterday the first workshop for teaching pottery craft targeting youth and children. The aim of the course is to preserve the traditional craft and raise a new generation willing to learn and practice the trade. In this respect, and due to increasing demand, the Cooperative has decided to open another session this coming September at its premises in Rashayya Fokhar, caza of Hasbaya. Also on the same day, the culture committee for Ain Z7halta municipality organized a 4-week drawing course for a number of young men and women of all ages. The course covered the art of oil and water painting, as well as glass and pottery painting, and closed with an exhibition showcasing the creations and art works of participants. The exhibition is expected to last until September 1. (As Safir, Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, August 30, 2016)

 

My Nationality is a Right for Me and My Family Campaign denounced yesterday a statement by foreign minister Jibran Bassil in which he refused the naturalization of Palestinians and Syrians, restricting this right to “our children and communities abroad,” and warning that “should the Lebanese identity melt away, Lebanon will to.” Bassil made his announcement during the launch on August 24th of a national campaign to restore the citizenship of descendants of Lebanese “fathers and grandfathers” in the world. He considered that every Lebanese expatriate notwithstanding his sect should reinstate his nationality. My Nationality campaign issued a statement strongly condemning such positions and the avalanche of disrespect and ridiculing of people. "This is not the first time ministers, deputies and politicians impart such racist declarations, notably minister Bassil, who uses every opportunity to spell out his plan rejecting the right of Lebanese women to grant citizenship to their families,” the statement said. “As if Lebanese women, your excellency, do not belong here, neither do their children. If your standards for the country’s endurance and continuity is maintaining its identity, how then, your excellency can Lebanon survive if you disregarded its women,” the statement added. Lebanon weakens and decays with the continuous marginalization and deprivation of the rights of women to full citizenship which is substantiated by discriminatory and unfair legislations and laws, the statement went on to say. The campaign also stressed that rights include the rights of women with no exceptions, and this is realized by endorsing their rights to nationality on the basis of full equality between citizens, men and women, away from any discretionary attempts. “The priority must be for Lebanese women and their families before any descendent living anywhere in the world,” the statement concluded. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Hayat, August 30, 2016

 

Pursuant to our news yesterday on the difficulty faced by the local labor market to accommodate the large number of graduates because of the nature of their specialties, (c.f.: http://bit.ly/2bStigQ), we turn today to the problem of high level of expectations in terms of salaries and other employment terms. The results of the survey carried out by Universum Global targeting 3560 students in the disciplines of engineering, information technology, banking and trade from seven universities across Lebanon, have indicated that graduates expect a monthly salary averaging nearly LBP 2,900,000 (LBP 2,628,173 for females against LBP 3,239,976 for male students). The survey also indicated a preference by students for opportunities to improve their professional skills and capacities against other employment terms (high salaries, travel abroad and leadership opportunities…), with the exception of engineering and IT graduates who expressed a preference for high pay over the development of professional skills. On their preferred professional field, more than one third of business/ commerce majors opted for management and strategic consultation, followed by banking, media and advertising industries. On their favorite firms, Google, topped the list, followed by Apple, L’Oreal, Nestle and Procter & Gamble for the first five positions. On the other hand, the survey pointed out that one third of engineering/IT students prefers to work in engineering and manufacturing rather than in construction and energy. The preferred companies in the said sectors, were Google, followed by Dar al Handasa, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung. (Al Akhbar, August 27, 2016)

 

In its edition of August 27, Al Akhbar daily published an article on difficulties facing fresh graduates and the labor market that has repeatedly failed to accommodate their large numbers in the absence of appropriate vocational orientation and the unreasonably high expectations of students in terms of salary and jobs. We will address today the first subject featured by the newspaper under the title ‘unemployment in disguise’, leaving for tomorrow the results of a survey by Universum Global on the expectations of graduate students. In its definition of disguised unemployment, Al Akhbar said it represents the professions which number of contractors or owners offset the market’s needs. Or for example, the marginal and temporary jobs that have no promotion or stability incentives (like the delivery persons, hookah, stamps sellers, etc). In its analysis, the newspaper maintained that some professions in Lebanon, like medicine, engineering, law and banking, have proliferated because of many contributing factors. First, comes the role of the state, and gave an example the post of planning which normally is the function of a public department or ministry but which has been completely replaced by the Council of Development and Construction which nevertheless does not carry out that function. Secondly, universities which graduate high numbers of potential jobless youth, and thirdly, the citizen him/herself. In the case of the latter, the parents and the student team up to look for a specialty that guarantees a secure livelihood but, who end up choosing one of the four professions mentioned earlier. Al Akhbar went on to say that in case of failure of all the above, there remains the army, the security forces and gendarmerie which yet suffer of masked unemployment, in addition to the transportation sector. In this context, the newspaper highlighted some internationally flourishing fields of education, like the osteopaths, but which Lebanon’s youth don’t give preference to. Other professions on the rise globally, include architectural repair related to the study of theoretical and applied principles in restoring heritage buildings. (Al Akhbar, August 27, 2016)