In collaboration with the Beirut Chamber of Commerce, Agriculture and Industry, the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) organized yesterday at the Chamber’s premises a ceremony for the distribution of the ‘gender equality’ award to business enterprises which support women’s participation in the economy. During the event was held in the presence of Labor Minister Sajaan Azzi and the Chamber President, Mohamad Shucair, and many members of the business community, Azzi noted that there is nearly one million and 800 thousand workers in the country, of who 64% are men and 36% of women only, a proportion that should increase, as he noted. Shucair, on the other hand, reiterated that a “healthy economy cannot survive without the effective participation of women in economy and decision making,” stressing that it is the responsibility of everyone to bring justice for women and guarantee their fundamental rights. This, he cited, can be achieved through appropriate legislation, proper funding, providing incentives, training and rehabilitation. During the ceremony awards were distributed to the following enterprises: Bank Audi, United Sports of Lebanon and the North Laboratories. It is to be recalled, that based on a MoU signed earlier, the Chamber and NCLW have agreed to grant annual awards to gender sensitive economic establishments for their performance in the following four fields: corporate strategy, human resources, employment system and incentives to employees. (Al Mustaqbal, As Safir, Al Diyar, An Nahar, December 4, 2015