Seminar on ‘Arab Working Women and Emigration” calls for urgent solutions to unemployment

The Labor Ministry in coordination with the Arab Labor Organization (ALO) organized yesterday a seminar entitled, ‘The Arab Working Woman and Emigration’ under the sponsorship of Minister Sajaan Azzi and the participation of ALO director, Fayez Matiri, the General Trade Union Chief, Ghassan Ghosn. Also present were delegates from some 13 Arab countries and representatives of local and regional labor unions. On the occasion, Dr. Iman Khaz3aal, who represented Minister Azzi, pointed out that Lebanon strongly identify with all issues of concern to the Arab World, including labor, and particularly women workers. He noted that Lebanon is a country that exports and imports labor and where women form are an active and essential element in society.  Khaz3aal lamented the high drain of Arab talents in the absence of a structured approach to benefit from them inside their countries. Matiri, for his part, emphasized that immigration has become more visible nowadays amidst the regional political turmoil which has negatively impacted life, work, income and all prospects of ordinary Arab citizens forcing many to face single-handedly their social and economic problems by relocating to other Arab or foreign countries. Matiri also noted that the phenomenon of emigration has mostly affected women, while pressing for an urgent regional and international solution to the current crisis. Finally, he warned that growing unemployment in the source countries, especially among the youth and most precisely among educated women, requires urgent and comprehensive solutions. (Al Diyar, February 11, 2016)