News

The League of Lebanese Women’s Rights in Mount Lebanon and Al Risala Social Association held an event at Al Risala’s Hall in the town of Alley to commemorate the International Women’s Day. The occasion was held in the presence of Agriculture Minister, Akram Chehayeb, and Minister of the Displaced, Alice Shabtini, as well as representatives of various civil society groups. The ceremony devoted some of its time to honor leading women activist, Linda Matar, for her decades-long fight for women’s rights in Lebanon, who Chehayeb described as “the seeker of a bay for humankind in a world that has almost lost its humanity and kindness.” The Minister went on to say, “Matar is a defiant fighter for justice and equality and a fearless advocate for the dignity of working women, struggling mothers and women partners in citizenship.” He brought to mind some other distinguished women figures, like Wahida Sharafeddine, Jamal Obeid, Salma Sfeir, Anissa Najjar, Hayat Al Nakadi and Hayat Arsalan, pointing out that “honoring Matar is an honoring for all pioneers in the fight for equality”. For her part, Matar hoped that women can gain influential in the Cabinet so as to support their rightful demands. To conclude, Matar received a symbolic shield of appreciation before signing her latest book, “Landmarks of My Life”. (Al Mustaqbal, 30 March 2015)

The traditional craft of copper polishing appeared in South Lebanon in the second half of the 19th Century. It emerged in Jwayya through one villager who acquired the skills from a wandering Egyptian craftsperson before it spread among the village youth and people of neighboring towns and villages. One present craftsperson, Qassem Hashem, boasting his 53 year old profession which he inherited from his father, said that his family business of polishing copper utensils provided for his 8-member household throughout the years. Abu Hassan said that he hoped to remain proud and resilient until the rest of his life while practicing his profession. “Living with minimum income is better than destitution and than having to plea for help,” he said. (Al Diyar, 27 March 2015)

Women students enrolled in communication at Saint Joseph University organized an evening at the Music Hall to support breadwinner mothers of disadvantaged students. Funds collected will be distributed among some 327 women providers who have filed for the USJ Administration assistance, as agreed with the Social Affairs Department at the University. The event which was held under the program “University for All” is part of several planned activities aiming to help mothers who strive to educate their children “at the best universities”. (An Nahar, 28 March 2015)

Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi voiced his regret that many private educational institutes, particularly universities, were hiring foreign faculty members instead of Lebanese teachers. Speaking to Al Diyar daily, Azzi pointed out that unemployment has increased by 346,000 people with the influx from Syria, according to recent International Labor Organization estimates. He insisted that his Ministry has stopped issuing work permits to foreigners, including Syrians, except in sectors where there are shortages in Lebanese workforce. Azzi noted that enterprises not observing Labor Ministry decisions and recruiting foreign workers, namely Syrians, are doing so to evade payment of the normal salaries. As to the education sector, the Minister went on to say: “We are not against cultural and academic interaction nor against recruiting non-Lebanese university professors, however, they have to observe a certain ratio.” He revealed that some 250 foreign professors are currently hired at the American University of Beirut and some 126 Egyptians at the Arab Beirut University. “The Lebanese,” Azzi noted, “are responsible for the present situation, as they tend to choose the easy option of emigration instead of looking for job opportunities in Lebanon.” In an answer to a question on the new grades and salaries scales, Azzi said that wage increases are crucial given the worsening living conditions, adding: “the decision on this matter is now in the hands of Parliament”. (Al Diyar, 27 March 2015)

The General Conference of the General Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Arab Countries ended its 42nd session in Beirut and issued recommendations to mobilize the role of the private sector in Arab economies in order to achieve Arab economic development and integration. The two-day event which was held in the permanent headquarters of the Union was organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, Lebanon’s Central Bank, the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), and with the support of Fransa Bank Group BLC and the Consolidated Contractors Company CCC. The meeting underlined the need to promote dialogue and cooperation between the Arab private sector and senior representatives of the Joint Arab Economic Action and to fight growing high levels of unemployment in the region through creative solutions. Recommendations included raising community awareness for supporting the youth, investing in vocational schools, creating recruitment opportunities and connecting entrepreneurs with funding sources. The conference reiterated its commitment to an Arab common market and as part of the global economy. Participants called on the forthcoming Arab Summit to issue a decision that will give priority to Arab products in the procurement of Arab governments. Other significant recommendations issued at the end of the conference called for investing in enhancing Arab manufacturing industries and therefore generating added values as well as investing in all forms of renewable energy, both in partnership and coordination between the private and public sectors. (As Safir, 27 March 2015)

Vice President of the Charity and Development Association (CDA), Dr. Karam Karam, announced the taking off of the work of the association next month in the northern town of Zghorta, which will be accompanied by the launch of a guidebook on craft workers in the area. This new booklet contains photos and profiles featuring famous crafts from Zghorta al Zawiyya, and including sewing, candle production, brocade, etc…, and focusing on the production of traditional home-made food items such as the famous Saj bread and traditional mooneh products, like jams, honey, arak and home-made soap. Karam disclosed that CDA is publishing its first edition of the booklet, which he described as ‘one of its kind’, in order to showcase the products of local craft people and to promote their exceptional talents. (Al Diyar, 27 March 2015)

ESCWA organized a news conference at the UN House in Beirut district to present the report issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and entitled ‘Unlocking the Potentials of E-Commerce for Developing Countries’. This UNCTAD report indicated a steady rise of e-commerce opportunities in developing countries, particularly with the extensive use of smart phones and social networking applications in internet shopping, in addition to the emergence of local e-companies providing e-commerce services. According to that report Lebanon came seventh in the top ten UNCTAD index list of Asian countries for the year 2014, leading China, United Arab Emirates, Iran and other Arab countries. The report also revealed that while the online purchasing share in Lebanon reached 10% between 2012 and 2013, the rate hiked to 45% in shopping through social media networks. In this respect, the Head of the Statistics Department at ESCWA, Rami Zaatari clarified that e-commerce index between consumers and companies and which is used as the classification benchmark, is based on compiled data for the use of internet, credit cards and postal service mail delivery. Zaatari explained that Lebanon has adopted flexible solutions to facilitate trade via smart phones and enable payment through mobile payment systems. However, Zaatari added, that while Lebanon is not equipped to access main global e-commerce servers or markets, efforts made by the Lebanese private sector in this field are commendable, notwithstanding the impeding government legislation. For her part, Hania Dimasi, from ESCWA Creative Department, expressed concern over the absence of appropriate laws that could effectively counter electronic crimes, pointing also to a large discrepancy between the different Arab countries in terms of cyber legislation and laws. The UNCTAD report concluded that despite widespread legislations combating electronic crimes, there are still some 30 countries which do not observe nor support any such regulations. Cyber-crimes, to note, widely vary between non-monetary crimes, like hacking confidential business or credit card information and spreading viruses on computers. (Al Diyar, 25 March 2015)

Amal Movement Women Affairs Bureau - Beirut Distinct, held a commemoration event to honor mothers and spouses of martyrs and wounded. Speaking at the event which coincides with Mothers’ Day, Randa Berri urged the Lebanese to keep abreast of to all developments seeking to enhance and strengthen the status of women in Lebanon to create awareness about women’s rights. Berri underlined the importance of women’s participation in political life, reiterating her commitment to the adoption of women’s quota in the proposed electoral law under study. (Al Diyar, 25 March 2015)

Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi ordered a temporary shut down of some 65 violating migrant domestic workers recruiting agencies until they comply with Ministry rules banning the advertising of services which are in clear breach of human rights. In another development, Azzi met with a delegation of the Union of Hotel, Restaurant, Food and Entertainment Employees and Workers headed by Beshara Shayya and General Director, Fawzi Hashem. Shayya urged all parties involved to observe decrees issued since 1950 that regulate work in those sectors. He pointed out to the subject of unlawful competition of Syrian labor in all industries, particularly in the hospitality sector. Other topics included the right to pension and social protection which as Shayya noted has been subject of deliberation for 25 years. The Labor Minister later received another trade union delegation of the Union of Syndicates of Construction and Timber Industry Workers led by Mursil Mursil, who handed him a memo demanding inclusion of construction workers in the social security system and warning against arbitrary layoffs. The Memo also called for increased tightening on permits to foreign workers, namely, Syrians and for improving and upgrading inspection and monitoring systems. (As Safir, Al Diyar, 25 March 2015)

Alley Merchants Association held a general assembly at its premises in Mount Lebanon town to discuss the current critical economic conditions in Alley, particularly in the wake of the newly enacted Law No. 1/142 imposing taxes on small businesses. President of the Association Samir Chehayeb, considered in a statement issued after the meeting that the Finance Ministry Law is unjust particularly that it targets companies which may be out of business. According to Chehayeb, the Law imposes an annual fee lump on income taxpayers as of 2015 and due by September 30 of every year, as follows: LBP 2 million for joint stock and partnership in commendams corporations; LBP 750,000 for limited liability companies LLC; LBP 550,000 for corporations and individual taxpayer companies based on real profits; LBP 250,000 for individual taxpayers based on lump sum profits and finally LBP 50,000 for individual taxpayers based on estimated net profits. Chehayeb revealed that the law in question was issued 15 years ago but was suspended until the return of the country to financial and economic stability. However, he explained: “the decision to enforce it now constitutes an economic offense,” and demanded a temporary waiver in order to review taxation policies. (Al Diyar, 21 March 2015)