Other news

The labor minister Sajaan Azzi called yesterday for setting an all inclusive insurance plan covering all workers in the agriculture industry regardless of gender or ethnicity. Azzi was speaking during his sponsorship of a pan Arab seminar on 'social insurance for workers in the informal agriculture and economic sector', planned by the Arab Labor Organization-Social  Protection Department, in collaboration with the Arab Association for Social Security. One of the main reasons for neglect of the agriculture sector by the Lebanese people, Azzi said, is the absence of social and health coverage. "We should be able to reach this point in order to give farmers the hope to remain  steadfast, reinstating the relation between man and his land and understanding the true notion of resistance and liberation to this effect.  For his part, the head of the Arab Labor Organization, Fayez Matiri emphasised the basic right of workers in the sector to social security in accordance with Recommendation No 9, issued by ALO in 2014, and concerning social protection. It is as well an essential economic and social tool to achieve social justice, he said, and to support transition from informal to more sustainable economies. (Al Mustaqbal and Al Diyar 5 October 2016)

Al Akhbar daily newspaper published today an article questioning the impact of large funds available to the Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture and earmarked to the endless conferences and exhibitions held inside and outside the country. Al Akhbar stated that the returns on exhibitors or producers participating in such events were almost zero, considering the additional levy imposed on them, while, noting at the same time, the large increase in the Chamber’s travel expense. Citing informed sources, Al Akhbar said the budget for expositions during 2016 was set at nearly LBP 600 million, 95% of which was spent to date. This budget, the newspaper went on to say, is very high compared to the previous one (LBP 300 million for the year 2015), noting that the Chamber actually spent some LBP 450 million last year, (i.e. exceeding the budget by 36%). Furthermore, and according to the newspaper, the total budget for exhibitions and conferences amounts to LBP 970 million, (which is equivalent to USD 647 thousand). This, the newspaper explained, represents around 10% of the overall budget of the indebted Chamber. Such expenditures also constitute about 18% of total membership fees. In a similar vein, Toni Rami, President of the Syndicate of Restaurants, Cafes and Patisseries expressed relief over the success of the recent Beirut Restaurants Festival which hosted over 70 top eateries from the capital, while noting that the number of visitors reached some 18,000 people (see the news: http://bit.ly/2dsMqlr). (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Akhbar, October 1-4, 2016)

Apple growers in Lebanon responded to the call last Saturday by the Lebanese Farmers Association and participated in the big "day of wrath" in several regions, namely, Fnaydik, Jebbet Bshareh, Tannurine, Kfarzebian, Beskanta, Barook and Jezzine famed for this agriculture. The move came as a warning to the procrastination by government in granting compensations to farmers and in salvaging the sector which secures the livelihoods of some 300,000 citizens. For his part, the minister of economy Alain Hakim emphasised the need for government to support apple growers similarly to wheat, barley and tobacco farmers. During the demonstration in Tarsheesh, the president of the Lebanese Farmers Association, Antoine Howayek, demanded the subsidization of the refrigeration services by 100%, compensations for apple grower in the tune of LBP 8000 for every box of apples, the facilitation of export or the full coverage of shipping costs, and finally the establishment of an agriculture credit bank. In Rashayya, farmers staged several sit-ins in various towns of West Beqaa and Rashayya warning to cut off all apple orchards and sell it as firewood if the authorities fail to find external markets for their products. In the Shuf area, farmers demonstrated at the agricultural cooperative association on Freidis-Barooq road blocking it with their apple production. Meanwhile, the Lebanese Forces Syndicate department warned the government in a statement on Saturday calling it to commit to the pledges through a fair coordination between the farmer and the apple dealer. likewise, the National Patriotic Movement Judges Committee launched a campaing to sell apples in Kfarzaaka in Koora caza, to encourage the Lebanese farmers. (An Nahar, Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 30, October 2, 2016)