News

In the framework of activities hosted at the Grand Serial every month, the spouse of the Prime Minister Lama Salam, organized a scientific seminar aiming to promoting the role of women in protecting national water resources. The event was attended by the Minister of the Environment Mohammad al Mashnook, the spouses of some deputies and ministers and representatives of various associations. In her welcoming speech, Salam outlined the various topics treated at the “Serail Rendezvous” platform since its inception. “The meeting is an attempt to mainstream women in the process of rational water consumption in order to preserve our water wealth,” she said. Also intervening at the event were, Secretary and President of Ibrahim Abdel Aal Foundation for Sustainable Development, Ramsi Arab and Nasser Nasrallah respectively, President of the Aquatic Center at the School of Engineering in USG, Wajdi Najm, Director of Sustainable Development Policies Division at ESCWA, Rula Majdalani and WHO representative in Lebanon, Elissar Radi. Interventions focused on how to enhance the management of water resources and the needed collaboration between public and private sectors. (Al Diyar, 20 March 2015)

Agricultural trade unions urged the government to facilitate the access of Syrian farm workers into the country in order to save the agricultural sector in the absence of Lebanese workforce. This urgent demand was voiced during a meeting held in Zahleh, in the presence of the Head of the Potato Farmers Union in Beqaa, George Al Saqr and President of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi and a number of farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs. One farmer, Nadim Abu Naameh, informed As Safir newspaper, that he have been chasing paperwork for one whole month to no avail, visiting Public Security offices across Lebanon,  Marjeyoun, Nabatiyeh, Hermel and Baalbek, in order to issue work permits of 21 Syrians who have worked for him for years. “Syrians who have been working for years in Lebanon and supporting agriculture sector are now no longer welcomed. This is what we understand from the new measures of the government,” he said. He indicated that the high season for Syrian labor normally starts in mid-February and lasts until late November of each year. To this effect, Al Saqr read a statement addressed to Prime Minister, Tammam Salam and Agriculture and Labor Ministers, Akram Chehayeb, and Sajaan Azzi stating that the recent restrictive government measures regulating the entry of Syrians into Lebanon are destroying the agriculture sector in the country. He also put forward a number of demands namely: facilitation and streamlining of procedures, allowing Syrian agro workers bring along their families, wavering all requirements related to health insurance and work conditions, and the canceling of residence fees which all adversely affect the cost of production. Saqr pledged that Lebanese farmers are willing to take full responsibility towards any threats to public security that may result from recruiting Syrian labor. Finally, he requested an urgent meeting with the Public Security Director General, Abbas Ibrahim to this effect. (As Safir, 20 March 2015)

Gender balance in the workplace reportedly strengthens national economies as it increases job satisfaction and performance, according to economic experts. Professor at the School of Business and Economy in the University of Umea in Sweden, Asia Lofstrom, underlined that a gender-balanced labor market helps to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) among the European Union member states by an average 20% to 25%. Lofstrom’s statement was made during the 59 session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women. In another meeting of the gender equality commission hosted by the Norwegian Cabinet, Lofstrom said that balanced work conditions can reduce poverty among women and children and increases economic independence for both men and women. Similarly, professor Katrin Olafsdottir of Iceland’s Reykjavik University, pointing to the results of a survey on the issue, said a more balanced workforce with an equal mix of men and women encourages greater self and job satisfaction and higher productivity at work. She went on to say that the performance of men and women is improved when they work together. For her part, member of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, Betsey Stevenson, pointed out that a woman who works full time still earns only 78% of the salary of her male counterpart. Women’s employment in the United States, she said, has remained fixed at 57% in the past few years, adding that the “wage gap between both sexes varies greatly with the different phases in the life of women and becomes more visible during pregnancy when they stop working or apply for more flexible and less demanding jobs and which normally are less paid.”  (Al Diyar, 19 March 2015)

Al Diyar daily interviewed the founding partner of the leading carpet gallery, Iwan Maktabi, Shereen Maktabi, following her honoring by Beirut Chamber of Commerce along with 15 Lebanese women entrepreneurs. To note, Maktabi was also chosen as one of the 200 most powerful Arab women by Forbes Magazine. Speaking to the newspaper, Shereen explained that the “feminine” and young touches have added some new features to the illustrious carpet trade, which in the past was confined to men,” Maktabi said. She noted that while personally she never faced any sort of discrimination as a woman in business, however, current Lebanese law impedes the empowerment of women.  “Take for example the law on divorce in Lebanon which is still primitive and is totally biased against women while marginalizing women’s role and rights” she added.  While involvement in political life is not one of her goals, Shereen expressed her support to the adoption of electoral women’s quota so that women can make a difference. In conclusion, Maktabi encouraged Lebanese women to remain determined and resolute in order to achieve their goals. (Al Diyar, 15 March 2015)

The small town of Kefrayya renowned for decades for its basket weaving is now witnessing the decline of this industry with the decreasing number of craftspeople which presently only total five people. One of the remaining active craftsmen is 75 years old, Mateh Makhul, who complained that his sons and grandchildren have chosen stop basket weaving which they considered not a profitable business anymore, because according to Makhul, the younger generation today seeks social security and pension benefits. This industry however, has faced sever setbacks in the wake of a fierce competition of from China, Malaysia and Thailand, Makhul noted. As for his daily production, Makhul indicated that he presently weave some 10 baskets each day, against up to 70 baskets in the past. “Production is declining with the decline in demand. But I have maintained some customers, mainly farmers, who purchase my baskets so as to pack their produce of fruits and citrus fruits”. On the key characteristics of basket weaving, he underscored the fact that it does not need much capital, only skills and taste adding that it capable of addressing his basic livelihoods needs.” However, Makhul expressed his skepticism about the future of basket weaving in Lebanon fearing that it may become extinct. (Al Diyar, 13 March 2015)

Strawberry growers in the northern villages and towns of Akkar voiced their strong concerns about the serious difficulties in marketing their production, particularly given the lack of border control and poor measures to protect domestic production from illegal foreign competition. Farmers pointed out to the fact that nearly 40 to 50 tons of imported strawberry, mainly from Syria, is smuggled into Akkar each day, hence flooding the Lebanese markets and causing considerable losses. What is noticeable is that the problem repeats itself with every season thus raising serious questions on the role of the Ministry of Agriculture in protecting local production and in enforcing the agreed agricultural calendar. Furthermore, farmers noted the failure of the Ministry in securing sustainable markets for domestic production so as to support farmers in stead-fasting on their land. Farmers in the towns of Koley3at, Al Mas3udieh, Balanet al H7aisa, Al H7aisa and Tel Abbas indicated that the total cultivated area of strawberry has recently shrunk to 90 hectares from 120 hectares as greenhouse farmers substituted strawberry with various kinds of herbs and vegetables. Furthermore, strawberry farmers noted the harvest delay this year which is mainly due to the successive waves of storms and frost that battered the buds. One farmer, Yasser Halabi, explained that he used “to pick the strawberries starting January and February of every year, unlike this year where he had to wait until the current month of March, which resulted in significant financial losses.” He further clarified that he normally sells his harvest early on before the arrival of imported strawberry. This year he said “I was forced to sell one kilogram of strawberry at the cost of production of LBP3000, because imported strawberry was being offered on the streets at less than LBP2000”. Muhammad Suleiman, another strawberry grower, commenting on the bad situation, noted that Lebanese strawberry was normally exported to the Arab Gulf states, but the delay in the harvest this year forced many exporters to search for new markets. On the same subject, Safadi Foundation signed an agricultural cooperation agreement with the US Land O’Lakes organization by which the American organisation will recruit and second to the Foundation an American agronomist, specialised in advanced and traditional cultivation of strawberry, and in order to provide technical assistance to local farmers. (As Safir, 16 March 2015)

“On the occasion of Mothers Day, treat your mum with a domestic worker. A special 10-day offer on maids from Kenya and Ethiopia. Call us on numbers….;”.This short racist message was circulated in the last 24 hours via cell phones thus steering strong public reactions. However, this announcement might have passed unnoticed were it not for the media and civil groups who approached the Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi. When questioned by As Safir daily, Azzi responded by saying that the Ministry has not yet identified the source of the message. However, he declared that he referred the advertisement to the public prosecutor’s office, adding, that the Labor Ministry team suspects two or three recruiting agencies and have assigned inspectors to investigate the case and to take punitive measures against the perpetrators. Migrant domestic workers recruitment offices in Lebanon, as is widely known, can be grouped into three categories: those licensed and members of the Syndicate of the Owners of Workers Recruitment Agencies in Lebanon (SORA); a second group of licensed offices but not members of SORA and, finally, illegal employment agencies. In this respect, SORA Chief, Hisham Burji, indicated that the syndicate was first to call for an end to racist advertisements which are offensive to domestic workers, such as demeaning posted images of migrant women workers or commercials announcements. He stressed that the Syndicate has repeatedly called for regulating this sector where only qualified offices should be authorized to operate and for sanctioning all others. He pointed out hundreds of similar cases of offensive advertisement, mainly involving banners for offices. He noted that punishing violating agencies will constitute a warning to all agencies, adding that it will be much more effective to impose preventive measures in order to deter potential perpetrators. A woman activist from KAFA said that her civil organization was instrumental in highlighting this matter within the media. Informed sources also indicated that the recruiting agency at the origin of this racist act was legalized not long ago. (As Safir, 18 March 2015)

On the occasion of Teachers Day, and in the presence of the representative of the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Elias Abu Saab, “Mumken” association (MMKN) organized an celebration event, in cooperation with the Center for Civic Engagement and Community Service at AUB (CECS) to honor volunteer teachers who were involved in providing support to some 103 underprivileged public school students. President of CECS, Dr. Elie Samya, praised the leading role of MMKN in the educational sector and the organization’s unrelenting efforts to sow the seeds of responsibility in students and to protect them from failures. He called on other civic society groups to follow the lead and to contribute to strengthening citizenship. For her part, Chairperson of MMKN, Ghada Feghali, outlined on the expansion of the work in public schools so as to cover the South, North and Mount Lebanon regions and later on all communities across Lebanon wishing to cooperate with the association. Feghali also introduced the book recently launched for the purpose by the MMKN, produced in English and French languages for Middle School students and which was distributed for free to nearly 480 pupils. Also speaking on the event, was George Haddad, the representative of the Minister of Education, who referred to Abu Saab’s vision for modernization and development and expressed the support of the Ministry to MMKN’s constructive work or any other similar initiative that aims at improving education, promoting knowledge and strengthening loyalty to Lebanon. To close, Haddad congratulated the honored volunteers for their achievements. (Al Diyar, 18 March 2015)

In an attempt to highlight the economic role of rural women in Lebanon, L’Orient Le Jours newspaper published last Thursday an interview with a Lebanese breadwinner woman from the southern town of Majdl Zoon, Mona Al Durr, who is making her livelihoods and those of her family from the sale of bread, pastry and the traditional "Mooneh" products. Mona, a 50 years old woman from Tyre, met the founder of Suk Al Tayeb farming market, Kamal Mizwik, and Nada Al Debs who helped her to access domestic and global markets. Mona showcases her products every Saturday in Suk Al Tayeb in downtown Beirut and on Tuesdays in Suk Al Ard in the district of Hamra, Ras Beirut, where she sells various types of "Manqoosheh": pastry. She is a member of the European Slow Food Organization which has opened to her new outlets in the Netherlands and Italy. Furthermore, Al Durr has visited Japan where she introduced the famous Lebanese “kishek” to that East Asian culture. Through hard work, she has successfully brought up her family and helped her three children to secure homes. (L’Orient Le Jours, 12 March 2015)

On the occasions of the International Women’s Day and Teacher’s Day, the Committee for the Lebanese Women’s Rights organised an event in honor of trade unionist leader Hanna Ghareeb and musical performer, Umaima Khalil, in Tyre High School auditorium, in the presence of several school principals and teachers, and public figures from various social, cultural and educational fields. In his speech, Ghareeb thanked the women committee for the thoughtful gesture and praised its unrelenting efforts, while underscoring that the trade union struggle for the adoption of the new grades and salaries scale will continue. (Al Mustaqbal, 14 March 2015)