The ILO in Lebanon

  • © ILO

    Lebanon has been an ILO member state since 1948 and has ratified 50 ILO Conventions, including seven fundamental Conventions. Lebanon’s capital Beirut is home to the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States (ROAS), where it has been located since 1976. Political developments since 2007 have precluded the development of a Decent Work Country Programme. Due to the onset Syrian refugee crisis began in 2011, the country now plays host to the largest number of refugees per capita in the world. Since the ILO ROAS opened its doors in Lebanon the agency has worked with its tripartite to develop programmes to counter the effects of the Syrian and Palestinian refugee crises, combat child labour, govern migrant labour, enhance social dialogue as well as reform labour governance and social protection in the country. More on Lebanon

Publications

  1. Rapid Diagnostic Assessment of Employment Impacts under COVID-19 in Lebanon

    The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in Lebanon at a time when the country was grappling with its worst economic and financial crisis in decades. Lockdown measures have further hampered economic activity and left various groups of workers severely affected. 

  2. Child labour in agriculture in Lebanon: A guide for practitioners

    Worldwide, almost 60 percent of working children aged 5–17 years can be found working in agriculture (including farming, fishing, aquaculture, forestry, and livestock). This amounts to more than 98 million girls and boys.

  3. Labour Market Information Review and Analysis: In-focus on Northern Lebanon

    The purpose of this study is to collect and analyse labour market information and services provided by different organizations across Lebanon, but particularly North Lebanon.

WIth ILO Support Lebanon:

  1. Syrian Refugee Crisis

    • Created 95,800 workdays for native Lebanese and Syrian refugees, equivalent to 2,400 short-term jobs.

  2. Employment Promotion

    • Launched the first Employment Intensive Infrastructure Programme (EIIP) which generated up to 96,000 individual workdays.
    • Employment service providers achieved a 37.3% increase in successful matches between job seekers and employers in North Lebanon.
    • Official Agricultural Technical Schools updated nation-wide vocational training curricula on high value added potato and leafy green vegetables.

  3. Child Labour

    • Developed the first National Action Plan to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in Lebanon.
    • Established the first permanent working children’s advocacy platform.
    • Conducted the first national study on working street children.

  4. Domestic Workers

    • Established the first domestic workers union in the region under the National Federation of Employees' and Workers' Unions in Lebanon (FENASOL).
    • Adopted a code of conduct for recruitment agencies of migrant domestic workers, a prerequisite for entry into syndicate of recruitment agencies.

  5. International Labour Standards

    • Ratified the Maritime Labour Convention.

  6. Skills and Employability

    • Designed the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategy for Lebanon.