A round table meeting at the Grand Serail “Rendezvous” to discusses Lebanese Women and economic empowerment

A roundtable was held yesterday at the Grand Serail in Beirut within the framework of the weekly “Rendez-Vous at the Serail” organized by PM’s wife Ms. Lama Salam. The Minister of Economy and Trade, Mr. Alain Hakim, attended the event and spoke about the findings of the latest IMF report regarding the importance of women’s role in labor and in the economy.  He called for the participation of women in the economy and for their empowerment so that they are able to play this role.  He added that his Ministry is seeking to set up and modernise businesswomen councils in addition to nominating women to vacant posts at the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.
Former Minister Wafa Dika Hamze spoke about the social and cultural obstacles to women’s economic participation namely in terms of the impact of the family as well as the educational system which reinforce women’s traditional roles as well as poorly conducive laws and administrative procedures. The General Director of the Central Administration of Statistics, Maral Tutelian presented the general indicators related to women’s educational achievements and their participation in economic activity and in the job market.  She added that the percentage of women’s participation in the labor force does not exceed 27% against 73% for men.  Women are also quasi absent as employers and take up only 18% of leadership posts. For her part, Maha Yehya, the researcher at the Carnegie centre highlighted the seven main gaps which hinder women’s economic participation namely citizenship, accessing capitals, education, job market, health and insurance, dominant cultural system and education.  She concluded by stressing the need to adopt new agendas to achieve better effectiveness and equality and to reform labor laws.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal, Al-Nahar 25 April 2014