The National Federation of Workers’ and Employees’ Syndicate in the South champion the rights of tobacco farmers

The National Federation of Workers’ and Employees’ in Lebanon (South Lebanon branch), noted in its statement released yesterday that there are tens of thousands of families working in tobacco growing, as their sole source of livelihood, and surviving with 50 cents a day as they are burdened by significant debts to banks. The statement also notes that the Regie continues to ignore the rights of tobacco farmers whilst it accumulates profits from their labor and keeps its capitals safe in the Central Bank.  The statement asked about the absence of any lobbying action by the trade union of tobacco farmers aiming to protect the families of tobacco growers and workers who live in abysmal social conditions.
The Federation requested that the rights of tobacco growers be secured beginning with the compensation for losses during the 2006 war.  The Federation called in favor of: a) making sure that the tobacco growing license is given to actual users, b) adherence of farmers in the NSS; c) ensuring that the whole harvest is accepted and abolishing the mention of “useless”; d) increase the price of one kilogram to become 15,000 and e) providing subsidies for fertilizers and drugs and transforming the regie offices into offices for extension and awareness raising.
Source: Al-Safir 4 June 2014