Supporting National Action to Combat the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon

This project aims to assist the Government of Lebanon, line ministries, parliament, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), workers and employers’ organizations to build their capacity to improve the application of laws and policies that address child labour issues, its root causes, as well as take the necessary steps to eliminate the worst forms of child labour (WFCL) by in accordance Lebanon’s commitment to the The Hague Global Child Labour Conference goal of eliminating WFCL by 2016.

Objectives

• To contribute to the prevention and complete elimination of the WFCL in Lebanon.

Main Activities

• Provide technical advice, training, policy planning and capacity building to Ministry of Labour (MOL), National Steeting Committee Against Child Labour (NSC), relevant line Ministries, the Human Rights Committee of the Lebanese Parliament and other stakeholders in order to improve the government’s capacity to combat child labour and report on the application of the ILO Convention on the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment, 1973 (No.138) and the Convention on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999 (No.182).
• Develop a National Action Plan to eliminate the WFCL in Lebanon by 2016.
• Prepare a national awareness raising strategy to combat the WFCL in Lebanon.
• Update the Lebanese Ministry of Labour’s Child Labour Unit’s website established in 2002.
• Produce two documentary films on the WFCL: one targeted at policymakers and one on working street children targeted at social workers, NGOs and the general public.
• Establish the first permanent working children’s podium at the MOL and carry out workshops at the Lebanese Parliament between working children and the National Forum For Parliamentary Dialogue.
• Sensitize national, regional and international media operating in Lebanon through workshops to child labour issues so they may accurately, effectively and ethically disseminate information on the elimination of the WFCL.
• Develop a guide for labour inspectors as well as Workers’ and Employers’ organizations on the WFCL based on Decree number 8987

Outcomes

• Capacity to eliminate the WFCL in Lebanon is built among key stakeholders in legislation, enforcement and policy coordination.
• Awareness of the elimination of the WFCL in Lebanon among key stakeholders and the public at large is raised.
• National, regional and international media’s interest and ability to report on child labour issues is enhanced.