News updates

In a statement issued on May 29, the United Nations said that the  Covid-19 pandemic has hit Lebanon amidst an unprecedented economic instability. The impact of Corona – in terms of domestic violence incidence and the gender gap in the workplace or in terms of unpaid work- could disproportionately affect women and girls, leading to a decline in the gains made so far to this effect. The UN, the statement added, and in response to the above, continues to coordinate with the Lebanese government and partners and intensifies efforts to meet the immediate and long term needs of women and girls. This involves for example, the provision of support to the ministry of social affairs to help with its emergency health and protection services through development service centers. It also entails boosting national government institutions which are considered the basic response tool to gender-based violence. (An Nahar, May 29, 2020)
 

The minister of labor, Lamia Yammin, on Friday discussed with a delegation of Women Leaders Council of Lebanon (WLC) the challenges facing the private sector. The WLC, to recall, has submitted a draft proposal aimed at developing a mechanism of cooperation between the private and the public sectors in all arenas, hoping to engage in discussions conducted by the ministry to amend the labor law and reduce the rate of participation in the National Social Security Fund proportionately with the reduction in wages. In a statement to this effect, the WLC stressed the significance of the continued viability and performance of companies and laborers, and the need to exempt employers from the payment of taxes as of the last quarter of 2019 through the year 2020. This measure could be adjusted according to developments, the statement added. The delegation also demanded that daily workers not be registered in the Social Security Fund, but that their status be disclosed only to the finance department, while taxes be paid in relevance to the income tax. As for work contracts signed exclusively in US dollars, in the event of the change of the official exchange rate, they will be calculated according to the official rate assigned by the Banque du Liban, while disregarding the market rate at the date of signing the contracts related to the Social Security Fund subscriptions and the end-of-service benefits. (Al Diyar, May 23, 2020)
 

In its issue of today, Al Akhbar wrote, through Sophia Maternity initiative, Joanna Nawfal works to help new first time parents prepare for the birth and post-natal stage. Besides the workshops and courses it offers, Nawfal has an Instagram account which provides useful info to this end, Al Akhbar reported. In the time of Corona, Al Akhbar said, a large part of the work of Sophia Maternity has become virtual, particularly interviews, which now can be followed remotely. In this respect, the newspaper pointed out that film director Nadine Labaki will be the guest of Sophia Maternity in a live debate “From heart to heart” which takes place on May 27, 8 pm, through the Zoom application. Labaki is expected to speak about her personal experience breastfeeding her two sons, Walid and Miron, in order to underline the importance of breastfeeding for both the mother and the child, especially in a country displaying low rates of breastfeeding. (Al Akhbar, May 22, 2020)
 

In her follow up on the conditions of foreign workers in Lebanon, the minister of labor, Lamya Yammin met yesterday with a delegation of the Ethiopian consulate in Beirut led by the Charge d’Affaires. The meeting focused on regulating the sector and the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers from the Ethiopian nationality to their country. Yammin also discussed challenges workers face as a result of the distressing circumstances inflicted by the Corona pandemic. She stressed the need to coordinate with the ministry in order to safeguard the rights of foreign laborers. To be noted that the voluntary repatriation of migrant workers has started today according to a joint decision between the government and the concerned embassies which indicated their willingness to host their citizens.  According to Al Akhbar newspapers, this will allow local employers to do away with their dues vis-a-vis their former employees especially simce many have stopped paying their wages following the rise in the value of USD. (Al Diyar, May 20, 2020)
 
 

The ninth edition of the Femme Francophone Entrepreneur 2020 competition was held last Monday in Beirut notwithstanding the situation with the Corona pandemic. The competition to recall, is annually organized by the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie and Berytech, in partnership with L’Orient Le Jour and Le Commerce du Levant. A statement by the organizers said this year’s edition presents a novel concept of the competition entailing three categories: research, technological innovation and social entrepreneurship. It rewards three projects involving the creation of an enterprise, the statement mentioned, adding, three winners will benefit from the necessary accompaniment to start up a company under the umbrella of Berytech business incubator. The competition which promotes women’s entrepreneurship in Lebanon offers a prize worth of 20,000 euros every year distributed among the winning projects. Reminding, that the deadline for the submission of applications is June 10, 2020. More information on the following link: https://competitions.berytech.org/ffe/. (NNA, May 18, 2020)
 

In its issue of today, An Nahar newspaper spotlighted marital affairs in three drama series currently aired on TVs. The featured episodes, according to An Nahar, drive us to break free from all socializing and interpersonal relations as they sustain immense extra marital affairs, double-dealing and back-stabbing. In the details, the newspaper analyzed three models of failed marriage relationships, exposed or disguised under the veil of lies. The woman in the first series, “Children of Adam”, is presented as extremely naïve, softie and kind-hearted, the fact that causes her harm. She is deceived by a husband who plays the role of a dutiful and respectful community figure, while in reality he is a big cheater and hypocrite, the newspaper wrote. And while In the second series, “If we did not meet”, the husband views his partner as a piece of furniture, in “Bardaneh Ana”, the husband is portrayed as boasting all the power and authority unlike his wife, who is completely neglected and mistreated. Her existence as a woman is annihilated and appropriated. To conclude, An Nahar stressed that a life like this under one roof is disastrous. (An Nahar, May 13, 2020)
 

The Al Akhbar issue of May 4th spotlighted an Egyptian soap opera currently running for the month of Ramadan.  The series entitled "Pronce" includes a number of conversations featuring its male lead actor, Mohammed Ramadan, as well as female cast and which are lade with derogatry comments vis-a-vis women especially women who are divorcees or widows.  This status is being referred to as a social stigma in the series.  According to the newspaper, this series is being discussed extensively in social media in view of the negative scropt it includes vis-a-vis women and which reproduce negative gender stereotypes.  The newapaper also talks about another series, "why do we love again" and which talks about women divorcee under a different light and by spotlighting their struggles with society.  This series takes ona modern view of women as the protagonist is a divorced women who seeks another love after her separation. (Al Akhbar, May 4th, 2020)