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Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Lebanon (RATIFICATION: 2001)

Article 4, paragraph 2, of the Convention. Identification of hazardous work. The Committee previously noted the extensive studies that were carried out by the ILO–IPEC in northern and southern Lebanon which indicate the types of work identified as hazardous and noted that a study along the same lines was conducted in the Bekaa. It requested a copy of this study. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that this study is not currently available, but will be communicated when it is. Therefore, the Committee again requests the Government to supply a copy of the study on the identification of hazardous work that was conducted in the Bekaa along with its next report.

Article 5. Monitoring mechanisms. 1. Labour inspection. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes that 25 assistant labour inspectors attended a training course entitled “Role of the inspectors of the Ministry of Labour in combating child labour” in April 2008 in Beirut. The aim of this training course was to promote the capacity of labour inspectors in withdrawing working children from the worst forms of child labour. The Committee also notes that assistant inspectors were provided with a manual entitled “Combating child labour: A booklet for labour inspectors”. The Committee encourages the Government to continue its activities to strengthen the functioning of the labour inspectorate with regard to the monitoring and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, and to provide information on measures taken in this regard. It once again requests the Government to supply, with its next report, extracts of the inspection reports specifying the extent and nature of violations detected involving children and young persons.

2. National Committee to Combat Child Labour (NCCL). In its previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s information that the NCCL had formulated a National Strategy for Combating Child Labour, which was formalized by the Ministry of Labour (MoL) on 7 February 2005 and adopted by the Lebanese Government by a ministerial declaration. The Committee asked the Government to supply a copy of the National Strategy, and provide information on the activities of the NCCL. The Committee notes that a copy of the National Strategy is included with the Government’s report. The Committee also notes the Government’s statement that meetings of the NCCL have stopped and that the MoL is currently re-examining the composition of the NCCL. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure the continued functioning of the National Committee to Combat Child Labour. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing information on the subsequent activities of the NCCL to monitor the implementation of the provisions giving effect to the Convention.

Article 6. Programmes of action. General Confederation of the Lebanese Workers (GCLW). The Committee previously noted that the GCLW, with the assistance of the ILO–IPEC, launched a programme to combat the worst forms of child labour. The Committee noted the Government’s information that the GCLW aimed to reach the two objectives through this programme: (1) the labour unions’ capacity to address the problem of child labour will have been further strengthened; and (2) the workers’ awareness of the problem of child labour will have been increased. The Committee notes the information in the Final technical progress report of March 2008 (ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008) of the project entitled “Supporting the National Policy and Programme Framework for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon and Yemen” (NPPF–WFCL ILO–IPEC project) that within the framework of the project, awareness campaigns were launched by the GCLW, following technical support and briefing sessions for heads of local trade unions. The Committee also notes that sessions were organized in Saida, Beirut, Tripoli and the Bekaa in order to acquaint workers with their role in and duty to respect and enforce related laws, as well as the nature, size and characteristics of the problem and the dangers it poses to the child and the society.

Article 7, paragraph 2. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (a). Prevent the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour. 1. Free basic education. The Committee previously noted the concerns expressed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC), in its concluding observations of 2006 (CRC/C/LBN/CO/3, paragraph 63), to the effect that parents are still charged for some costs of education despite the legal guarantee of free education, and that repetition and drop-out rates have increased. The Committee also noted that, according to the CRC, a National Plan on School for All (2005–15) had been adopted. The Committee further noted the existence of a programme of cooperation between the Government and UNICEF, which comprises a learning programme that contributes to national efforts to provide access for all to a quality basic education, including for the poorest, and to improve retention, as a preventive strategy for tackling child labour.

The Committee notes the information in the ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008 that through NPPF–WFCL ILO–IPEC project, 431 children were provided with non‑formal schooling, and 1,449 children received formal schooling, while 638 children were provided with books and school supplies. The ILO–IPEC FTPR also indicates that, in total 4,042 children were prevented from engaging in, or removed from, the worst forms of child labour throughout the project’s implementation. The Committee further notes the information available on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees web site (www.unchr.org) in a report on the worst forms of child labour in Lebanon (WFCL report), that a project entitled “Alternatives to combating child labour through education and continued services in Middle East and North Africa” (ACCESS–MENA), funded by the US Department of Labor prevented 6,958 children from entering exploitative child labour through formal and informal education programmes in Lebanon.

Nonetheless, the Committee notes that, according to the UNESCO report entitled “Education for All – Global Monitoring Report 2009”, primary net intake rates have declined from 69 per cent in 1999 to 60 per cent in 2006.The Committee also notes that in 2006, there were 81,000 out-of-school children, compared to 41,000 out-of-school children in 1999. Considering that education contributes to preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee strongly encourages the Government to redouble its efforts to improve the functioning of the education system, particularly by increasing school enrolment rates and reducing the school drop-out rates. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard, and updated statistical information on the results obtained. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on its cooperation with UNICEF and ILO–IPEC for the purpose of facilitating access to quality basic education.

2. Project for the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the Sin el Fil-Borj Hammoud area. The Committee previously noted that Lebanon had launched, with the assistance of the ILO–IPEC, a “Comprehensive project for the prevention and elimination of the worst forms of child labour in the Sin el Fil-Borj Hammoud Area” in 2001, where the worst forms of child labour are predominant. The Committee noted that, according to the Technical Progress Report of March 2007 for the NPPF–WFCL ILO–IPEC project (ILO–IPEC TPR 2007), interventions aiming at preventing at-risk children from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour continue and services, such as visits to families, social follow-up and counselling services for children, health service and non-formal educational support, were provided to 169 children and families. The Committee notes the information in the ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008 that the project was implemented by the Armenian Relief Cross (ARC), an NGO located in Borj Hammoud, in conjunction with six other NGOs and the Social Development Council. The Committee notes the information in the ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008 that this project concluded on 5 May 2008.

Clause (b). Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour, and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Following its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government’s statement that the MoL is currently formulating a comprehensive national plan to provide assistance to working children, and for their rehabilitation and reintegration, within the third phase of the ILO–IPEC project. The Committee also notes the Government’s information in its report submitted under Convention No. 138 that workshops were implemented in 2008 which removed 150 children from the worst forms of child labour, and returned these children, between the ages of 11 and 18, to school. The Committee further notes the information in the WFCL report that the ACCESS–MENA project withdrew 1,994 children from exploitative child labour through formal and informal education projects. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the comprehensive national plan, to provide assistance to working children, their rehabilitation and reintegration, being drafted by the Ministry of Labour, and on the concrete measures taken pursuant to its implementation. It also requests the Government to provide information on the number of children removed, rehabilitated and reintegrated, following the implementation of this national plan.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Palestinian children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the phenomenon of child labour exists on a wide scale in the camps of Palestinian refugees and the surrounding regions. The Committee noted 550 children of the Ain El Helweh Palestinian refugee camp were targeted by a programme implemented by the Nabil Berri Institute to prevent them from being engaged in child labour and its worst forms. The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report that the National Strategy to Combat Child Labour gives priority to specific regions where child labour is the highest, such as the Palestinian refugee camps and surrounding regions. The Committee also notes the information in the WFCL report that non-Lebanese children, such as Syrian and Palestinian boys living in Lebanese refugee camps, constitute approximately 85 per cent of children working on the street. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken within the context of the National Strategy to Combat Child Labour to protect Palestinian children from the worst forms of child labour, including work on the streets, and on the results achieved.

Clause (e). Special situation of girls. In previous comments, the Committee noted the Government’s information that the second phase of the ILO–IPEC project in Lebanon includes the launching of activities specifically aimed at the protection of girls from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour. The Committee asked the Government to provide more detailed information on the concrete measures taken in this regard. The Committee notes an absence of information in the Government’s report on this point. The Committee notes, however, the information in the ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008 that a study, entitled “Domestic Child Labour in North Lebanon” focusing on girl child workers in domestic work was conducted. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcome of this study, as well as any measures taken following its completion, aimed at addressing the special situation of girls, including those employed as domestic workers.

Article 8. International cooperation. Poverty reduction. The Committee notes that, according to the TPR 2007, a Social Action Plan (SAP) had been formulated to target the promotion of sustainable and equitable development while combating poverty and setting up social safety nets. The SAP addresses working children and their households as one of the main social groups characterized by acute poverty and aims to “target poor households and large families with children either not enrolled in school or under the legal age to work”. The Committee notes the information in the ILO–IPEC FTPR 2008 that, in this regard, the SAP includes cash-assistance support and follow-up services to households that comply with a number of conditions, including ensuring that their children stay in school until the end of compulsory education. The Committee also notes that the SAP includes programmes focusing on the prevention of school drop-outs focus, by reducing the cost of education for poor households, improving ongoing school food programmes, and the provision of school supplies. The Committee further notes that the SAP initiatives to address the problem of working children and children at risk of delinquency would provide vocational training, life skills and support the return of these children to school. Noting that poverty reduction programmes contribute to breaking the cycle of poverty which is essential for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on any notable impact of the implementation of these measures within the framework of the SAP towards eliminating the worst forms of child labour.

Part V of the report form. Application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the information in the MoJ trafficking report that Lebanese juvenile courts deal with, on average 22 cases of children involved in prostitution per year. The Committee also notes that the survey in the MoJ trafficking report identified 38 suspected child victims of trafficking (page 50). The Committee further notes that the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, in its concluding observations of 8 April 2008 expressed concern that the trafficking in women and girls is growing in Lebanon at the lack of systematic data collection on this phenomenon (CEDAW/C/LBN/CO/3, paragraph 28). The Committee expresses its concern at the lack of data available on the trafficking of children, and it urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that sufficient data on the situation of child victims of trafficking is available. The Committee also requests the Government to redouble its efforts, to ensure in practice the protection of young persons under 18 years from commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking for this purpose. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide any other relevant information on the nature, extent and trends of the worst forms of child labour, the number of children covered by the measures giving effect to the Convention, and the number and nature of infringements reported, investigations, prosecutions, convictions and penalties imposed.