News

The Minister of Labor Selim Jreissati launched last Friday a law proposal aiming at regulating the operations of employment agencies involved in the recruitment of migrant domestic workers.  The new proposal suggests the re-activation of the national employment office which is formally mandated to regulate the relation between employers and employees thus containing the role of employment offices.  The same proposal also includes provisions for strengthened legal protection of domestic workers such us for instance the need to have a witness standing at the signing of papers prior to the arrival of the migrant worker and the protection of confidential documentation.  The proposal also compels employers to open bank accounts for their domestic workers with an amount equivalent to at least six months’ salary.
On a different matter, the Minister of Labor also recently forwarded to the Cabinet a law proposal to regulate the work of agricultural workers.
Source:  Al-Akhbar 16 March 2013
 

The “Parents of Disabled” association opened yesterday an exhibition for handcrafts and gifts at the Crowne Plaza under the auspices of the vice president of the Walid bin Tala Association, former Minister Leila al Solh and with the participation of 40 organisations.   The event was also attended by former Minister Mona Ofeiche and several representatives of civil society organisations.
Within the same vein, former Minister Solh attended the opening of the annual exhibition of the Charitable Association of the Ladies of Ras Beirut and which was organized at the Riviera Hotel.  The exhibition includes various forms of hand made products the sales income of which will be used to support elderly ladies and needy children in Ras Beirut.
Source: Al-Nahar 18 March 2013

The women committee of the Free Patriotic Movement organized a luncheon on the occasion of Mothers’ Day at the Hilton Hotel under the auspices of Ms. Nadia Michel Aoun.  The women committee started the event with a presentation of a general report by Elsi Moufarrij followed by a surprise appearance by General Michel Aoun.  Aoun addressed the audience highlighting the role of women in educating members of the society and the necessity to restore women’s rights and to eliminate all differences between women and men especially in the letter of the laws.  Aoun also noted that despite the plurality of society in Lebanon, his party is still seeking to endorse the law to protect women from domestic violence.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Diyar 18 March 2013

The Minister of Finance, Mohammed Safadi, laid the founding stone for the start up of the Bikfaya tobacco factory during a special event for the occasion.  Safadi noted the importance of this developmental initiative with the start of the refurbishment of the premises of the Regie Libanaise des Tabacs et Tombacs.  According to the Minister, this will create new job opportunities for the youth, will limit migration. This is to be added to the current direct support that the Regie provides to tobacco farmers through purchasing their harvest at subsidized costs.  

The Minister also noted that the success of the Regie has contributed to strengthening the national economy and increasing income from production and trade which have resulted in overall revenue of 535 billion LBP in 2011 of which 100 billion were transferred in 2011 and LBP 150 billion in 2012.

The Director General of the Regie, Nassif Saklawi, noted for his part that this is a vital initiative which will allow the export of tobacco according to international standards.
Source: Al-Nahar, Al-Mustaqbal 15 March 2013

The Social Welfare Institutions – Women’s Empowerment inaugurated yesterday its seventh “creative hands” exhibition at the Women Empowerment organization located in Beirut and on the occasion of international women’s day.  The event was attended by the general director of the association, Amer Bawab as well as the representative of the Turkish embassy Arada Olotassi and various other social figures.

The exhibition included various handicrafts and art work such as embroidery, mosaics, pearl embroidery in addition to homemade sweets.  The producers were women who had completed various training workshops including photography, internal design, accounting, marketing, ticketing, pearl embroidery, sewing, painting on fabrics, mosaics as well as cooking. These activities fall within the scope of the  association which seeks to support women’s economic empowerment.

After the inauguration of the exhibition, certificates were bestowed to some 95 women who completed the various types of training which extended over 4 to 9 months.  The exhibition will remain open for 3 days.

Souce: Al-Mustaqbal 14 March 2013

The women committee of the League of the Sons of Beirut opened yesterday its exhibition of products handmade by women with the participation of several women organisations and individual women.  The president of the women committee, Mona Itani, noted in an interview with Al Safir newspaper that this exhibition is a special gift on mothers’ day as the organization strives to make such handmade products available to the general public at affordable process.  The exhibition will remain open to the public every day until 23d of March from 10:00 am to 19:00 pm.

The Zgortha – Zaweyah Trade Association, organized yesterday a workshop in the municipal theater in Zgortha, focusing on the credit program providing small and medium size loans which is supported by Kafalat and the Central Bank of Lebanon, as well as parallel financial facilities offered by BLC bank. The workshop was attended by the president of the Zgortha – Zaweyah Trade Association, Jude Sotto, and representatives of the credit section at BLC bank.
The workshop was held as part of the association’s endeavor to stimulate the agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors in Zgharta Caza. In his keynote speech, one BLC official outlined the procedures for submitting to loans. He pointed out to the various facilities offered by the bank aiming at boosting growth in the aforementioned sectors.
To apply for such loans, please call on the two following numbers: 03-561116 and 06-660556
Source: Al-mustaqbal 3 March 2013