ILO in the Arab States
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World Social Protection Report 2020–22: Regional companion report for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region
This regional companion report for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is intended to complement the ILO’s World Social Protection Report 2021–22. Social Protection at the Crossroads – in Pursuit of a Better Future. The regional companion report first gives a global perspective that is taken from the main report and outlines recent developments in social protection systems worldwide. It then highlights key developments, challenges and priorities for social protection in the MENA region.
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Social Protection Spending in Lebanon: A deep dive into State Financing of Social Protection
To understand how social protection spending and financing is structured in Lebanon and who its main beneficiaries are, this Budget Spending Review on government spending on social protection for 2017-2020 aims to inform an evidence-based policy response. Its findings provide food for thought on how the reallocation of resources in a context of crisis can be more efficient and equitable.
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ILO and ESCWA: The Arab region registers the highest unemployment levels worldwide
A new report highlights the high levels of informal employment in the region, accounting for about two thirds of total employment, and resulting from demographic shifts, political instability and low levels of fiscal and monetary stability.
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Report - “Assessing Informality and Vulnerability among Disadvantaged Groups in Lebanon: A Survey of Lebanese, and Syrian and Palestinian Refugees”
This study assesses the extent of informal employment and vulnerability among the most deprived Lebanese citizens, and the Syrian and Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, through the analysis of representative survey data on employment and labour market conditions of these three population sub-groups.
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ILO honours the victims of the Beirut port explosion
The ILO joined other UN agencies to honour those who lost their lives and their loved ones in last year’s Beirut port blast, and paid tribute to the women and men who lost their properties, jobs and livelihoods. ILO Regional Director Ruba Jaradat took part in a memorial event at the location of the tragic explosion.
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How domestic workers got organized in Kuwait
Ann Abunda arrived in Kuwait 18 years ago to work as a domestic worker. Having lived through some challenging experiences, she helped found a thriving organization that advocates for the rights of domestic workers in the country.
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ILO promotes entrepreneurship among Lebanese nationals and Syrian refugees in Lebanon
The ILO has trained over 650 women and men on its My First Business entrepreneurship training programme, aimed at promoting livelihoods and decent job creation in the agriculture and agro-food sectors.
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Preserve Iraq’s cultural heritage, create decent work
In the first video story of our ILO in Action series, Chief Technical Adviser, Bashar Elsamarneh, explains how a joint ILO/EU/UNESCO project in Iraq’s historic Erbil City is preserving its cultural heritage, while teaching skills and promoting decent work for local people and Syrian refugees.
What's new
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Press Release
New guidelines for ethical reporting on labour market issues in the Arab region
04 December 2021
The guidelines aim to provide support to journalists at all levels who wish to cover the world of work in a fair and equitable manner.
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Video
Arab Journalists connect for a more robust and human-centred approach to labour market reporting
03 December 2021
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Press release
UNICEF and ILO in partnership with the European Union launch a new national disability allowance to provide cash support to people with disabilities living in Lebanon
02 December 2021
Publications
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Towards a Productive and Inclusive Path: Job Creation in the Arab Region
This report by ESCWA and the ILO Regional Office for Arab States examines why Arab economies fail to create sufficient decent jobs. It provides guidance to policymakers, help reduce labour market deficits, especially in the formal private sector, and unlock the potential of the private sector to become a major driver for economic growth and the creation of decent employment across the region.
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Report - “Assessing Informality and Vulnerability among Disadvantaged Groups in Lebanon: A Survey of Lebanese, and Syrian and Palestinian Refugees”
This study assesses the extent of informal employment and vulnerability among the most deprived Lebanese citizens, and the Syrian and Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon, through the analysis of representative survey data on employment and labour market conditions of these three population sub-groups.
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Impact of COVID-19 on Migrants and Refugees in the Arab Region
This technical paper examines the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants and refugees. It focuses on several relevant areas including health, income security, the economy and education.