News

NCLW organized, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the UNFPA, a meeting at the Greek Orthodox School in Akkar to promote cultural, community and public awareness on women’s role.  The meeting was attended by representatives of political parties and groups as well as NGOs.
In his address to participants, the head of the social affairs department in Akkar, George Ayda noted that “all are aware that women in Lebanon are in a non-enviable position and all are calling for slogans to support women’s public role and their enjoyment of their rights yet, these slogans have yet to be implemented”.  Ayda added that it is specifically this situation that has prompted the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) to develop the National Strategy for Women.  The purpose of this meeting was therefore to operationalise the strategy.
Dalia al Lakkis, a consultant with the NCLW, then presented the elements and components of the National Strategy which is based on the Lebanese constitution and which recognizes equality amongst women and men in rights, responsibilities and basic freedom for all citizens.  She emphasized that the Constitution also reiterates the commitment of Lebanon vis-à-vis the United Nations conventions as well as the International Human Rights Charter adding that the Lebanese state has in fact committed itself to upholding all these international standards in all fields with no exception.
Source: Al Moustakbal, 4 October 2012

The NGO “Opportunity” organized in collaboration with the USAID an exhibition entitled “First Employment Opportunities” in Baalbek with the participation of 20 institutions from various sectors.  The latter showcased their employment opportunities available for youth and aimed at introducing young people to existing employment opportunities with companies and institutions in the area and facilitating linkages and communication with these as well as in order to familiarize young people with the requirements of the job market such as being able to go through successful interviews and understanding work organizations.
It is to be noted that “Opportunity” provides training to tens of young people in hairdressing and barbering, cooking, painting, phone repairs, ICT and social media as well as civic participation.
Source: Al Safir and Al Liwaa’, 4 October 2012

 

The Lebanese-French University of technology and Applied Sciences (http://www.ulf.edu.lb/) organized in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli a conference entitled: “the job market in Lebanon and the north: challenges and solutions”.  The conference was held in parallel to an employment fair which was organized on the University campus in Deddeh-Al Koura.
In his opening address, the president of the University, Dr. Mohammad Salhab noted that there were “important strides made in education which is now based on bridging theoretical and practical learning”.  Salhab also noted that advances made in ICT have facilitated the students’ access to information but that the university is helping students in enabling them to access useful and valuable sources of information.  His address also focused on the importance of establishing strong relations between universities and the job market.
University professor Mokbel Malak gave an address on behalf of the “Al Azm wal Saadeh” association in which he spoke about the job market in the North.  He indicated that the total number of employed people in Lebanon is estimated at 534,410 people half of whom work in Beirut and its suburbs.  He also noted that 100,000 people work in agriculture and less than 100,000 in the industrial sector.
The General Secretary of the Union of Chambers of Commerce in Lebanon and the treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Agriculture in Tripoli Tawfic Dabbousi highlighted the developments within the job market in the North and the role that the Chamber is playing in creating new employment opportunities.  He also added that there is indeed a crisis in matching the needs of the local job market with existing university training.  He stressed the need for developing a joint strategy between academic institutions and the private sector.

Source: Al Dyar, 2 October 2012


 

Minister of Labor Selim Jreissati convened a meeting yesterday October 2nd to review the road map for establishing the pension plan and social protection system.  The meeting was attended by representatives of the World Bank and the ILO as well as the Prime Minister’s advisor, Samir al Daher and the national advisor for policies at the ILO, Mr. Ziad Sayegh in addition to Kamal Hamdan, Joseph Khalifeh and other “experts”.
Jreissati urged participants to speed up the steps for endorsing the plan as well as put in place a coordination mechanism amongst all parties of the social contract namely employers and employees in addition to the National Social Security Fund and the parliamentarian health committee, with the aim of reaching an agreement on various contentious issues related to the financial architecture of this plan.  This will include discussing the level of contributions by employers and beneficiaries, the type of investments and insurances, hospital coverage as well as the transitory phase from the current system to a full-fledged pension plan.  The meeting also discussed the management of the plan and the ways in which transparency, integrity and quality can be insured.  Jreissati concluded the meeting by reiterating the importance of closely monitoring the work and progress of the follow-up committee which will emanate from this meeting.

Original text in Arabic: Assafir - Annahar

Despite the long struggle for equality between women and men in Lebanon, most banks in Lebanon still refuse to allow Lebanese women to open bank accounts for their underage children because fathers are generally still considered to be the sole custodians of their underage children.
However, the BLC bank appears to have made a breakthrough in this matter.  Indeed, the bank’s head of marketing and production, Ms. Carel Ekilian, declared in an interview to the Al Nahar newspaper that the bank is proud to have started this initiative along with other concrete steps aiming at supporting women to access all their financial and banking rights.  According to Ekilian, there is no law that prohibits Lebanese women from opening bank accounts on behalf of their underage children.  She added that back in 2009, the banking association along with a number of lawyers attempted to find solutions for this issue especially in relation to the status of fathers as custodians for their underage children (or the grandfather in case the father is absent).  This, according to Ekilian, has prompted the bank to make this bold move and allow women to open bank accounts for their underage children.  The accounts will be automatically transferred to the children’s names as soon as they reach 18 years of age.

Original news in Arabic: Annahar

In an interview with Al Nahar newspaper about her life and social and political background, Hayat Arslan described the realities and paradoxes in the lives of Lebanese women.  Arslan noted that there are several profiles of Lebanese women notably those with self esteem, others who are subdued or who are superficial.  Arslan added that change can only come through women’s economic emancipation.  When talking about women’s participation in decision making, Arslan confirmed that it was indeed poor because of patriarchal control and mentality as well as women’s reluctance to get involved in politics and the low level of awareness among women as to their “national duties vis-à-vis their country”.

Arslan also talked about her work within her organizations and the implementation of a program aiming to support women economically and which benefited women from both Muslim and Christian communities.  Her current ambition is to set up build a HQ for her association in Aley.  Finally, Arslan pointed out to the work of the handicraft cooperative for which she is responsible and which seeks to market traditional Lebanese women-made crafts in Lebanon and outside.

Original news in Arabic: Annahar

The president of the General Trade Unions in Lebanon has addressed the Minister if Economy and Trade, Mr. Nicolas Nahas with regards to the raise in school tuition fees in private schools and which is escalating without any form of government control.  According to the president of the GTUL, this rise by the administration and which is endorsed by the parents’ committees of schools is based on non-realistic budgets that are submitted to the Ministry of Higher Education which in turn approves these without proper monitoring or auditing.

Ghosn also pointed out to the added financial burden on families resulting from the proliferation of the new practice of trade-marking within private schools as most of them have their own “designer” school outfits bearing the institution’s logo and which  students are forced to buy at high prices whereas alternatives are available on the local market at a lesser price.  Ghosn also added that the same practice is presently in place for school books and stationary.  (Al Safir, 2 October 2012)

The Parliamentary Committee for administration and justice, headed by MP Robert Ghanem discussed a law proposal for the creation of a special trade union for professional midwives.  Ghanem indicated that midwives need to have proper training and certification and the creation of trade union will allow a proper monitoring and control of the profession.
Gnaem noted that the number of midwives is decreasing.  He also added that a midwife certificate is obtained after two years of training following the Baccalaureate level whereas old traditional midwives are now very rare and that 95% of current midwives have a formal certificate.  Ghanem concluded that the discussion within the committee will be resumed after reviewing the new law proposal in the light.

Original news in Arabic: Annahar - Almustaqbal