Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Lebanon (Ratification: 1977)

The Committee notes the observations from the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), received on 5 September 2017, which call on the Government to support the National Employment Office (NEO), protect Lebanese workers and promote youth employment. The Government is requested to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the “First job for youth” programme has been discontinued. The Government adds that the NEO, in cooperation with the Beirut Traders Association and the Société Générale de Banque au Liban, has conducted a study on the workforce in commercial and service enterprises, with a view to highlighting weaknesses and strengths in the commercial sector, to better understand the professional and economic situation of workers, assess the sector’s manpower needs and determine how to meet these. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons underlying the discontinuation of the “First job for youth” programme and to provide information as to the nature and outcome of any alternative programmes established or other measures taken to promote youth employment. It also requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the National Employment Office study on the creation of decent and lasting employment as well as on the reduction of unemployment and underemployment. Referring to its previous comments, the Committee requests the Government to provide information, including disaggregated statistical data on the situation and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, particularly with regard to women and young workers. The Government is also requested to report on progress made through its first labour force survey with respect to the compilation and dissemination of labour market data, and to indicate the manner in which the collected data is taken into consideration in the formulation and implementation of the employment policy.

Employment promotion through technical vocational education and training (TVET) for young persons. The Government indicates that the National Centre for Vocational Training currently offers training in four specializations (electronics, heating and refrigeration, computing and beauty) and additional training courses are organized for Lebanese citizens and non-nationals, in collaboration with the European Institution for Cooperation and Development (IECD) in the fields of air-conditioning, refrigeration and electrical wiring. The Government adds that, under a joint ILO/UNICEF programme entitled “Towards improved formal and non-formal technical vocational and educational training in Lebanon”, the Board of the National Centre for Vocational Training is engaged in a project to modernize the Centre, update its educational programmes and organize training programmes for 2018. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information, including statistical information disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the training programmes implemented on securing full, productive, freely chosen and lasting sustainable employment. In addition, noting that all trainees in the electronics, heating and refrigeration fields are men and all trainees in the beauty specialization are women, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken or envisaged to address gender-based occupational segregation, particularly in education and training programmes aimed at promoting youth employment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that technical vocational education and training curricula and programmes are coordinated with existing and anticipated employment opportunities, to meet the current and evolving needs of the labour market.

Migrant workers. In response to its previous comments in respect of measures adopted in the framework of an active employment policy to prevent abuse in the recruitment of foreign workers resident in the country, the Committee notes with interest that the Government has taken a series of measures to prevent the abuse of migrant domestic workers. The Government reports that a Bill regulating decent work for domestic workers has been drafted in accordance with the provisions of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). Moreover, a Steering Committee composed of 25 bodies, including relevant ministerial departments, the Syndicate of the Owners of Recruitment Agencies in Lebanon, non-governmental agencies (NGOs) and concerned embassies, has been established to deal with issues of specific relevance to female migrant domestic workers, leading to the formulation of a Standard Unified Contract (SUC) for migrant domestic workers (both male and female) and publication of a guide to inform female domestic migrant workers of their labour rights. The guide and the SUC have been transmitted to the embassies of labour-exporting countries and are distributed to each female worker upon her arrival in Lebanon. The Ministry of Labour has also taken measures to restructure offices engaged in recruiting female domestic migrant workers according to international standards for the respect of human rights and the combating of human trafficking and has set up a specialized office for complaints as well as a hotline to provide direct assistance to migrant domestic workers. The Government further indicates that bilateral agreements have been signed with a number of States on the protection of migrant workers and negotiations are being carried out with labour-exporting States to conclude agreements on protecting the rights of female domestic workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on developments in relation to the Bill regulating decent work for domestic workers and to provide a copy once it is adopted. The Government is also requested to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to prevent abuses of migrant workers, including migrant domestic workers.

Promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on measures taken to create an environment conducive to the growth and development of SMEs, including the adoption of the “Lebanon SME Strategy: A Roadmap to 2020” and publication of an SME guide. The Government also refers to the ILO-led project entitled “Enhancing SME productivity and competitiveness in Jordan and Lebanon through responsible workplace practices. The project promotes collaboration between, among other actors, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and the National Federation of Employees and Workers in Lebanon, and aims to build the capacity of employers’ and workers’ organizations to provide workplace improvement and business management training sessions as well as improve SME workers’ skills. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the effectiveness of measures and programmes implemented in support of SMEs and their impact in terms of improving the SME business environment, enhancing workers’ skills and creating decent jobs. It also requests the Government to provide information on measures taken to promote youth entrepreneurship and create new small and microenterprises.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that, on 2 April 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding launching the Lebanon Decent Work Country Programme was signed by the Minister of Labour, the President of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, the President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and the ILO. The Programme aims to strengthen policy coherence, with a focus on labour administration and labour inspection systems; improve conditions of decent work in Lebanon; enhance productive employment opportunities with a focus on Lebanese youth; improve the provision of social security and institute a minimum level of social protection; and improve the governance and regulation of labour migration. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated and detailed information on the manner in which the views of the social partners – in particular representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken – are taken into account in the development, implementation and review of employment policies and programmes.