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A meeting was held between the Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, and a delegation representing various factions of the economic sector namely the president of the association of Beirut merchants, Nicolas Shammas.  The meeting focused on the massive lay outs of employees as well as the root causes of this problem.  Azzi warned about the increasing trend of mass lay outs which reached in Beirut 2181 employees and that is only between January and the end of July, according to figures of the Ministry of Labor.  He considered that this is the result of the economic, social and political crisis facing the country, adding that there are “companies which are paying half salaries while others do mass lay offs without compensation and others delay lay offs”.  In conclusion, Azzi noted that “the Ministry of Labor will work together with economic institutions and trade unions and will act as a watchdog and will also try within the parameters of its mandate and capacity to ensure the resilience of economic institutions so that there are jobs available as well as an ability to pay compensations and incentives to workers to enable them to overcome this difficult period”. Shammas noted for his part that the statistics released by the Ministry are quite high.  He attributed this to the economic decline currently facing Lebanon.  Shammas further reiterated the commitment of employers to secure the entitlements of the state, suppliers, banks and employees.  He added that lay offs is their last recourse.  Shammas concluded that” employers are keen on their employees but some companies are rather opportunists as they tend to replace Lebanese employees by foreigners.”  This Shammas considered as being unacceptable while describing this trend as “poisoning the Lebanese economy”. (Al Mustaqbal – Al-Diyar – Daily Star – September 10, 2016)

 

In an attempt to readdress the declining economic conditions in the northern capital, the economic and civil groups in Tripoli and the North have carried out a number of initiatives and activities to this effect. On the subject, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Tripoli and the North, Tufic Dabbussi, revealed the setting-up of an investment firm which is currently scoping and studying the conditions of the public facilities in the area. Some 32 economic figures from all over Lebanon, Dabbussi said, are contributing in the search for new and success bound investment opportunities that could create jobs for the young generation and generate profits and accelerate the economic cycle. Meanwhile, Dabbussi is following up the alignment of all details of an operable groundwork for implementing the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) program for development of the workforce skills and enhancing the products of the furniture sector in Tripoli and North Lebanon. In the same vein, and in collaboration with the European Union, the municipality of Tripoli organized a workshop entitled ‘promoting local development and governance in the localities of Tabbaneh, Jabal Mohsen and Al Goraba2. The purpose of the workshop is to review ‘improving local development and governance of the municipality of Tripoli’ project aimed at enhancing the health services provided by the existing health care centers and targeting mainly women, children and senior citizens of the above three localities. Similarly, the municipality of Ehden-Zghorta organized a training session for a number of Ehden hotels in collaboration with the Syndicate of Hotel Owners in Lebanon. This comes as part of the preparation and development of entrepreneurs and the creation of small and medium enterprises program implemented by UNIDO. The workshop was held on 6th and 7th of September and covered sessions focusing on hospitality management, marketing and sales techniques and human resources management. (Al Diyar, September 3 and 9, 2016)

The German Center published an analytical study on the Lebanese labor market based on findings of a World Bank study which revealed that the required jobs in the country are mostly centered around the technical, professional and administrative sectors. According to the study, the argument of absence of harmony between the needed and offered skills is quite weak. Certain sectors, the study analyzed, boast development competences to accommodate a larger workforce, like for example: agriculture, construction and real estate, transportation and logistics, banking and finance, tourism and hospitality, health, IT, communication and the media, fashion and jewellery, renewable energy and waste recycling industries. These sectors which currently employ around 50% of the labor force and are responsible for nearly 50% of the gross domestic product, yet, given their demanding nature, have potential to accommodate more. The study stressed the importance of small enterprises as they represent closely 90% of the registered companies and influence the lives of half of the declared employees in the country. Moreover, the study continued, in the absence of focused or specialized incentives for the small and medium enterprises, an informal labor market has emerged. As such, figures have shown an increasing participation in the labor market of the population residing in Lebanon, excluding university graduates. The study further raised questions whether the cause is the Lebanese ‘immigration model” or the lack of motivation or incentives in the labor market or a combination of both. Besides, the study maintained, the domestic labor market simply does not generate sufficient employment prospects, and during the coming decade, some 23 thousand job seekers are expected to enter the market annually, at a time the number of jobs created during the past 10 years did not exceed 12 to 15 thousand jobs (!?). Finally, while noting that the growing aspirations by women for work require creating more job opportunities, the solution should address the structural problem in the labor market and the factors that affect the existing unemployment trend, the study cautioned, concluding that proposals for resolving the problem should not be limited to the control of the labor market. (Al Akhbar, September 8, 2016)

 

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Chaos in the labor market in the absence of planning, and career orientation

 

The American Lebanese Chamber of Commerce announced during a press conference in Beirut yesterday that it is organizing a ‘Start Up Lebanon-Silicon Valley Roadshow’ between September 12 and 17 in collaboration with Startup Megaphone. The scheduled field trips by the delegation of emerging enterprises will cover the large  tech companies in the capital of the American technology. Some 30 startups are participating, besides representatives of the Central Bank of Lebanon, the Financial Markets Committee, Micro Venture Capital Funds, as well as concerned lawyers and business people. The aim of the visit, according to the Chamber’s Chair, Salim Zenni, is to introduce the Lebanese startups in the sector to the best experiences notably in the domains of investment, business accelerators and investment guidance. This, Zenni added, helps open doors for the young generation of Lebanon to venture and sell their innovations globally, in addition to facilitate communication with interested investment funds. The visit, Zenni pointed out, will cover Facebook, Microsoft, Uber, Instagram, Google, SAP and Startups 500 and will include business meetings with their heads. The Lebanese delegation is also scheduled to partake in the European Innovation Day at LinkedIn. The US ambassador to Lebanon, Elizabeth Richard, expressed her government’s commitment to support economic prosperity in Lebanon through the Lebanon Value Chain Development Program or the present initiative. (As Safir, Al Hayat, the Daily Star, An Nahar, L’Orient Le Jour, September 8, 2016)

 

The “Mubadarat” development association organized the apple festivities of Mayruba, September 4 and 5, under the slogan, ‘apples are key to health’. The aim was to bring to light this vital sector of economy in Upper Keserwan and its neighbouring districts and highlight the diverse apple-processed beverage and food products. Some 40 establishments, cooperatives and individuals participated showcasing their assorted items, in addition to the presence of the agriculture and industry ministries and the state-run Lebanese University School of Agriculture. On the occasion, Mubadarat president, Farid Khazen, drew attention to the prolonged suffering of Lebanese farmers and agriculture, urging the government to compensate apple growers or buy their harvest similar to other agricultures and crops. Meanwhile, the festivals continue: the town of Ghosta in Keserwan organised its second summer music and joy fiesta, including concerts and an annual free rural dinner, similarly the municipality of Jadra in Iqlim al Kharub held last week a village banquet in the courtyard of the St George Church. In the South, the National Gathering for Culture, Environment and Heritage in coordination with the Federation of Municipalities of Mount Hermon and al Aqaba-Rashaya Club organized the Lebanese Heritage and Folklore 2016 festival in Rashaya under the motto ‘independence, spirit and culture’; while the municipality of Kfar Hamam held its 2-day ‘pine wedding’ festival in the town’s square. Finally and further to the north, the Guidance and Solidarity Club ended the ‘Bayno Summer festivities’ 2016 with an outstanding painting expo by children. (Al Mustaqbal, Al Diyar, September 7, 8, 2016)

 

The agriculture minister, Akram Shehayeb, has called off a week ago an earlier decision issued on June 9 halting the import of vegetables, fruits and similar products from Syria until the end of 2017 (http://bit.ly/2aBdRaC), stating its countless adverse repercussions on local farmers. Justifying the decision, Shehayeb explained that banning the entry of agricultural goods from the neighbouring country has failed to protect Lebanese farmers and local production, and has, as well, stepped up smuggling activities along the borders with total disregard from the security authorities. Speaking to Al Jumhuriyah newspaper, Shehayeb said he has released a new directive to regulate exports which require an import permit on products coming from Syria, supplemented with the necessary laboratory tests to prevent any potential health hazards on citizens. The minister made clear that prior licenses apply only to products that are needed here in Lebanon. As such, he said, licenses would not be given for example for olive oil, white cheeses, apples, grapes or potatoes, as domestic production is sufficient to meet local demand. He pointed out that the issue of licensing is seasonal and depends on market needs, stressing that determining what kind of goods that should not be allowed into the country is done in collaboration with the relevant agricultural cooperatives and syndicates. In a related vein, minister Shehayeb revealed that Lebanese industrialists wishing to export their products to Syria are facing difficulties and provocation in an angry reaction to the earlier decision from the Lebanese side, while, he added, illegal border crossings have flourished, especially in Akkar and Hermel. Immense quantities of made-in-Syria goods enter daily in the absence of security control, Shehayeb maintained, disclosing that Customs authorities have been notified of the new decision. (L'Orient Le Jour, The Daily Star, September 7, 2016)

 

Previous related news: 

Syrian objection to the banning of fruit and vegetables imports to Lebanon

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/syrian-objection-banning-fruit-and-vegetables-imports-lebanon

Lebanese exports fall by 30% because of trouble in exporting to Syria

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/lebanese-exports-fall-30-because-trouble-exporting-syria

Can unilateral protectionism save Lebanon’s declining agricultural sector?

http://www.weeportal-lb.org/news/can-unilateral-protectionism-save-lebanon%E2%80%99s-declining-agricultural-sector

 

The Association for the Protection of Jabal Mussa (APJM) inaugurated yesterday its workshop in the town of Jouret Tormos in the presence of UNESCO- Man and the Biosphere program representative, Zina Iskandarani, and UNESCO representatives George Tohmeh and Ghassan Jradi, as well as members of local municipal boards and mayors and women producers from the area. The newly-created venue which is funded by the Drosos Foundation of Switzerland comprises a central kitchen for processing rural and traditional mooneh, a seed laboratory supported by BLC bank, in addition to a conference and training hall. During the opening ceremony, the APJM president Pierre Dumet revealed that around 14 thousand persons have visited Jabal Mussa in 2015, which as he said, is a great incentive for the inhabitants and the guesthouses that are happy to receive them and provide them with an assortment of mooneh and artisan items produced at the workshop. For her part, Iskandarani said she hoped “Lebanon will take the lead in the Arab network for the Man and the Biosphere Programme, especially given the serious endeavor as acknowledged by the UN organization and the emulation of this effort in other Arab countries with the contribution of the Lebanese expertise.” Tohmeh, on the other hand, stressed the role of the association and the supportive efforts of the local community, notably women and the youth. (Al Mustaqbal, Sept 6, 2016)

 

 

Pursuant to the law suit filed against the Modern Mills of Lebanon (Matahin Lubnan al H7aditha) by civil society groups which ended in shutting down the establishment upon a court decision last July for non-compliance with food standards (http://www.lkdg.org/ar/node/15351), Al Akhbar newspaper revealed, that the company, in clear defiance of the judge’s verdict, resumed work supported by a counter agriculture ministry report stating that it meets required standards. The said report, prepared by four ministry employees, has been proved fake, as per Al Akhbar newspaper, which noted that the final decision will be taken after the end of the legal yearly vacation. (for more info on the enquiry, follow the link below: (http://www.al-akhbar.com/node/263668).

In a similar vein, food poisoning incidents continue to be reported despite the on-going food safety campaign launched by the ministry of health. In this respect, the latter announced last week that a team of the ministry is following up such incidents and the associated medical tests after 7 cases have been registered in Baalbaq, specifically at Zahrat Lubnan restaurant. The restaurant was closed until the publishing of test results on chicken samples, as well as samples taken from “Farruj al Sayyed” meat house in Zahleh, the meat supplier of the above restaurant. Meanwhile, health ministry inspectors shut down a number of violating establishments in the following areas: Mreijeh, Tahwitat al Ghadir, Haret Hreik, Shiyah, Saida, Ghazieh, Baaleshmeih, Kfarshima, Obadieh, Khaldeh, Zahleh, Bawshrieh and the Tal in Tripoli. (For the complete list of closed establishments, please visit the following link: ((http://bit.ly/2c2xbxk)

 

In an interesting article featuring the making of halava in Lebanon, L’Orient Le Jour daily pointed out that the product, made basically of sugar and tahini, and which is one of the most exported domestic items, is currently facing a fierce competition from similar goods manufactured in state-of-the-art factories in the Arab Gulf states and at very competitive prices. On the subject, L’Orient Le Jour interviewed Munir Bsat, the manager of Munir Bsat Factories, who underlined that Lebanon is among the top  selling countries of the halava product globally, besides Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Bsat pointed out that the domestic production of the sweet product stands at 6 thousand tons a year, 60% of which is exported. The main competing plants are, al Rabi’, Munir Bsat, al Kanater, al Yaman, Ghandur, al Nakhil and al Wadi al Akhdar. Expounding on the manufacture of the sweet confections product, Bsat said that besides tahini which is its  main ingredient, sesame is a requisite. And since the crop’s cultivation requires large acres of land, sesame is imported from China, India and Sudan to compensate for the meagre local production (maximum 100 tons a year), Bsat maintained. According to customs figures, Lebanon has imported last year some 30 thousand tons of sesame at USD 50 million, mainly from Sudan. Bsat also mentioned findings of new studies, particularly in the US, showing that people opt for new flavors of the products containing sesame due to their high nutritional values. Yet, it is early to anticipate the plan of export to the US, Bsat said, as this requires a study of customers’ tastes and food likes and, this at present is impossible for Lebanese companies to conduct due to high cost involved. (L’Orient Le Jour, September 5, 2016)

 

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Made-in-Lebanon hummus relies on American imports!