News updates

The Minister of Industry, Mr. Freij Saboonjian, expressed his full trust in the Lebanese agro-food industry and its capacity to expand in outreach to many external markets.  He invited industrialists to take part in the New York Food Exhibition especially since the USA represents a large market which is potentially ready to absorb Lebanese products.  Saboonjian’s declarations were made during a meeting he held yesterday with the new president of Syndicate of Lebanese Food Industries (SLFI), Mr. Munir Bsat.
For his part, Bsat complained about the protracted requests made by the electricity company and addressed to industrialists who have defaulted on the payment of their electricity bills.  Bsat claims that these requests for payment do not take into consideration the lower fees granted to industrialists although these industries are officially registered at the Ministry of Industry and have an industrial permit. Finally, Bsat called on the Ministry to effectively support the participation of Lebanese industrialists in international exhibitions including Gulf Food Exhibition in Dubai, Jebbah Exhibition in April 2014 and SIAL French Food Exhibition in France.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar 21 November 2013

The Parliamentary Commission for Administration and Justice headed by MP Robert Ghanem, endorsed, last Monday the 18th of November 2013, the law for the creation of the mandatory syndicate for nurses in Lebanon after introducing a few technical changes to the text. The amended clauses of the text deal with the mechanism for calling for a general assembly, its needed quorum, ways in which board members, the president and the members of the disciplinary council should be elected.  The revisions also addressed ways to fill vacant seats as well as calling for specialized assemblies in addition to the specialized committees.  The new text also determines the grievance procedure as well as the mechanisms for appealing the decisions of the disciplinary council.  The new law also stipulates the imposition of a new tax of LBP 5000 to be added to each hospital bill. Revenues from this special will be used to garnish the pension fund of the Syndicate.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 19 November 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report on the court ruling issued by Dina Abdoul, the Penal judge in Keserouan sentencing the women employer of a Filipino women domestic worker to a three month prison term and a penalty of 100000 LBP according to the stipulation of clause 555 of the penal code.  The defendant was also ordered to pay compensations to the plaintiff amounting to 10 million LBP and to cover all ensuing legal costs.  The report adds that this court ruling followed a complaint lodged by the Philippine embassy to the Public Prosecution Appeals in Mount Lebanon back in 2008 based on the report of the forensic doctor Kivork Jeyan which ascertains that the plaintiff was subjected to physical violence by her employer over more than 70% of her body.
According to the news report, this is the second such ruling with the first dating to July 2013 and which ruled for a prison sentence for the defendant because of failure to pay the employee’s salaries.  However, in both case, justice was served rather belatedly (3 years after the first court order in the first case and 5 years after the first court order in the second case).  The report questions whether this delay actually affects the value of the justice served.
Source: Al-Akhbar 16 November 2013

The programme entitled “Economic Dialogue” organised a workshop on “strengthening food production as a healthy food as well as a promising investment”.  The event was organised last week a the Rashayya castle under the auspices of USAID and the programme for developing the value chain in the Lebanese industrial sector (LIVCD) and which seeks to develop various productive sectors in Lebanon and particularly the honey production of Jabal el Sheikh.  Some 130 beekeepers, from various parts of Lebanon, took part in this workshop many of whom are members and/or heads of cooperatives and unions of cooperatives of beekeepers in addition to representatives from USAID, local municipalities and individuals who sell honey and its derivatives.  The workshop was part of a series of seminars organised by the project and aiming at strengthening rural development through highlighting the importance of small and medium enterprises, the opportunities they present for investment, as well as the importance of networking between project holders, investors, banks and donors interested in agriculture and animal farming.
The marketing and export director of the USAID/LIVCD project, Dr. Nadine Chemaly, spoke during the workshop of the project and its various objectives namely to develop the production sector especially in relation to Lebanese honey production, and strengthening the capacities of beekeepers through training workshops on beekeeping, pest control and marketing strategies.  Participating beekeepers spoke of the difficulties they currently face as well as the important role that municipalities should play in preserving beekeeping.
Source: Al-Diyar 18 November 2013

Live Lebanon- UNDP organized a public event last week in collaboration with the Municipality of Bsharreh and the Bank of Beirut and the Arab Countries (BBAC) to inaugurate its new tourist project located in the town.  The project goodwill ambassador, Fadi Salameh, noted in his keynote address that the project will benefit all residents in Bsharreh and will boost tourism through its support to ecotourism, religious, cultural and sports activities, whilst creating more than 10 new permanent jobs.  The UNDP resident representative, Luca Renda also noted that Live Lebanon projects are implemented through financial support provided by Lebanese immigrants who seek to contribute to local social developments in the country.  These contributions have also allowed for the refurbishment of the traditional market in the won which will in turn increase the income of local population, will improve living conditions and encourage tourism.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

As Safir newspaper published, last week, a brief review on tobacco growing in the South and which presently benefits some 14000 out of the 16500 families which used to make a living from it during the hay days of this sector.  This sector also benefits and additional 10000 families in the North and in the Bekaa.  The report highlights difficulties faced by farmers namely illegal competition by other farmers who are not licensed and which has prompted the Regie des Tabacs et Tombacs, the official body in charge of this sector together with the Ministry of Finance, to set a production ceiling of 5,450,000 kilograms a year for South Lebanon.  Farmers also suffer from the high cost of production associated with this very demanding crop.
The report relays the wishes and suggestions of the president of the Trade Union of Agriculture and Tobacco, Hassan Faqih, who asked that the state distributes new licenses to small farmers in the South, especially to those living in the borderline areas as a mean of support.  He added that these areas are still infested with landmines and should be demined so that they could be replanted.  Faqih also asked the government to raise the average price per delivered kilogram to LBP 15000 so as to be in harmony with the overall high cost of living indicators, and to provide compensation for farmers whose harvests were burnt during the Israeli aggression of July 2006.
He also insisted on the need to include tobacco farmers in the NSSF whilst reminding that this matter was discussed and settled by the administration of the NSSF which in turn referred it back in 2000 to the Cabinet and no progress was made since then.
Source: Al-Safir 13 November 2013

The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN) organised a workshop during the Euromed summit for social and economic councils which was held last week in Barcelona by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), and the European Economic and Social Committee EESC.  The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network’s workshop focused on women’s economic and social situation and included an intervention given by the president of the Lebanese Women’s Council, Ms. Jamal Ghibril, who spoke of the difficulties women face in entering the job market and the discrimination they face.
Within that same framework, the president of Lebanon’s Economic and Social Council, Mr. Roger Nasnas, noted that the project launched by the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) should aim at strengthening the infrastructure while protecting the environment and developing the economic capacities of the region within the framework of comprehensive development so that no area or social group remains marginalized or excluded.  He added that such projects are an opportunity to create new jobs and to develop the capital market.  Nasnas added that the region will not develop without new efforts to strengthen small and micro enterprises, the adoption of new policies conducive to production and creativity, opening markets, developing new social contracts which guarantee standards for decent work and secure safety at work, decent income and the protection of communities from poverty and marginalization.  Nasnas also emphasized the role that economic and social councils need to play so as to meet these priorities of the.
Finally, the president of the Arab Network of NGOs for Development, Ziad Abdel Samad, highlighted during a special workshop the current opportunities and challenges facing NGOs and the need to adopt a  new development model for the state and the economy that will include mechanisms for effective CSOs participations in decision making and monitoring.
Source: Al-Safir 18 November 2013

The women section of the Future Movement in Akkar organised an event to celebrate the graduation of women who completed the two ICT training workshops which were held in Kab3eet and Wadi Jamoos in Akkar, in collaboration with the Federation of Municipalities of Sahel and Wasat Al-Kaytah.  The event took place last week at the section’s headquarters in Akkar with the attendance of the general coordinator, Samer Haddara, the president of the Federation of Municipalities of Sahel Al-Kaytah, Ahmed el Mir and the coordinator of the women sector, Insaf al Asaad.
Al Asaad noted that the renaissance of Lebanon and Akkar will not be possible without a wide participation of women including students, wives, sisters, and girls in the development of their local communities.  She highlighted the Future Movement’s full support to women activities despite the currently difficult situation of Lebanon in general and North Lebanon and Akkar in particular.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

The Future Movement completed last week, and in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, two workshops; the first focused on the concept of liberalism and targeted the women sector of the movement whilst the second targeted the youth sector and focused and aimed at developing leadership.  The 2 events were organised within the framework of the ongoing awareness raising and cultural activities implemented by the Future Movement in collaboration with the German organisation.
The workshop on liberalism extended over two days and included a number of interactive exercises on the concept of liberalism, challenges and practical steps to operationalise it, and an introduction to practices of “liberal life”.  The second workshop used practical activities and focused on developing leadership skills amongst the youth, whilst highlighting individual rights and responsibilities, and designing strategies for action.  
The organizational assistant at the Future Movement women section, Nawal Mdally, noted that both workshops seek to build individual capacities and to strengthen the concepts of liberalism and leadership, amongst the two targeted groups, with the ultimate aims of supporting women, challenging all forms of violence against them, and facilitating women’s active participation at all levels particularly in political life.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 18 November 2013

Bayt.com conducted, in collaboration with YouGov for research and consultation, an opinion poll on business entrepreneurship in the Middle East region.  The results revealed that half of the Lebanese population prefers to work for the private sector, in addition to their own businesses, that 77% of the Lebanese indicated that they prefer to work in the private sector against 33% who prefer the public sector.  Furthermore, the opinion poll showed that 44% look forward to engage in personal business initiatives.  To be noted that the questionnaires were disseminated and completed online between 2 and 15 September with 8776 responses received from the UAE, KSA, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.
The poll also revealed that 64% of Lebanese business people chose to go into business entrepreneurship for self fulfillment and 55% in order to secure greater income.  According to the poll, 49% of those surveyed and who are now working in the private or public sector, are also looking forward to set up their own businesses, whilst 17% of those who set up their own businesses have actually failed.  Within the same vain, 73% of business entrepreneurs in Lebanon considered the unstable political situation in the country as the main challenge for starting a new business, whilst 60% considered that the main hurdle is the country’s economic instability.
Source: Le’Orient Le Jour 12 November 2013

Afaaq Association organised last Wednesday a workshop on agricultural development in the area within the framework of its action aiming at supporting the agricultural sector in the Bekaa.  The event was organised at the municipality in collaboration with the Union of Municipalities of Jabal el Sheikh in Rashayya Qaza and was attended by Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abou Faour.
The President of Al Afaaq Ahmed Thabet highlighted the realities of agriculture in the region and offered ways to improve it.  He noted the key role of nongovernmental organisations in presenting plans to improve this sector, while stressing the critical role of local municipalities in supporting farmers and in making the best use of the resources available to municipalities and NGOs.  Thabet also focused on the need to draw local agricultural calendars as well as extending services to farmers.
Abou Faour gave a keynote address that focused on the importance of adopting a developmental vision, whilst emphasizing the important role that municipalities and municipal confederations can play in strengthening agricultural development.  The Minister also called for the setting up of agricultural processing projects that will benefit farmers and highlighted the importance of environmental preservations notably in Jabal el Sheikh (Mount Hermon) whilst hoping that the area will not be wiped out by constructions.  Finally, the Minister called for the setting up of an industrial zone as a safe area away from residential and agricultural areas.  He also criticized the impact of quarries and the systematic destructions that these are causing.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 15 November 2013