The Director General of La Régie Libanaise des Tabacs & Tombacs (Regie) Engineer Nassif Seklaoui received at his office a delegation from Rmeich municipality that
informed him about the challenges and difficulties the tobacco season is facing on the backdrop of the mildew disease that is now widespread in the region due to the
climatic conditions, especially high humidity, and also due to nitrogen fertilization.
The delegation included the Head of the Municipality Fadi Makhoul along with Messrs. Albert El-Hajj, Youssef Habib, Samir Abdoush, and Menhem El-Hajj.
During the meeting which was also attended by Leaf Tobacco Manager Mawla Abed El Mawla, Eng. Seklaoui gave his recommendations for concerned departments at
Regie to distribute pesticides and delegated engineers and technicians to inspect the fields and provide assistance and guidance.
que certificate of its kind at the level of public utilities. A well-earned certification after two years of hard work to become the first public facility in Lebanon to adopt preventive measures and reduce any damage resulting from work-related hazards enabling it to be prepared to respond to emergencies that are more frequent in a country where emergency situations are almost more prevalent than the safe ones”.
He also explained that "readiness in times of emergency goes beyond the field of occupational health and safety. Without the readiness of the Regie, we would not have been able to face all the challenges we encountered, especially in recent times." He then added, “if it wasn’t for the Regie's persistence, we would not have been able to contain the crisis of rising prices, increase our production capacity, or combat smuggling, thanks to the tax stamp authenticity that was launched.”
Seklaoui dedicated this certificate "to every member of the hardworking and ambitious Regie family". He said: ”I am proud of the leadership of this remarkable institution and each worker in it," he then highlighted "I offer this recognition to them, it is the result of their effort and dedication”.
He stressed that “despite the difficult economic situation, the Regie's investment standard has high investment returns while preserving the health and safety of its employees. Implementing this standard would reduce healthcare costs, and insurance costs for assets and properties and minimize damages resulting from risks while maintaining its significant role in enhancing the reputation of the institutions in general and strengthening the confidence of the Regie’s global partners”.
He called on all those who deal with “the Regie" forming an integral part of its successes, including companies, contractors, and heads of sales, to cooperate “in conserving this certificate by adhering to the required safety guidelines and instructions and work to implement standards in all aspects of work”.
"The objectives of the health and safety system are to provide a safe working environment, preserve the health and safety of all workers and visitors, and quickly respond to any type of emergency" said Mariam Hariri, the project manager.
She also recalled that "ensuring a safe working environment through the implementation of the Occupational Health and Safety Management System" was one of the strategic objectives of the sustainable development launched by “the Reggie” under the patronage of the Speaker of the Parliament years ago. She pointed out that “the Regie" has achieved several other objectives by using this strategy. It includes obtaining the ISO 9001:2015 quality certificate, and making it “training is a culture of work and a continuous need", organizing the first national conference to combat smuggling, and launching an awareness campaign to combat child labor.
She also clarified that obtaining the ISO 45001 Health and Safety certificate went through "several stages, the first of which was planning in 2020, then implementing in 2021, training in 2022, up to the external audit in the year 2023”.