National Awareness Raising Strategy on the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon

A National Awareness Raising Strategy accompanying the National Action Plan

to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon by 2016

2

Contents

Executive Summary 4

I. Background 6

II. Introduction 7

National Action Plan’s Strategic Interventions: Objectives & Outcomes 9

III. National Awareness Raising Strategy Objectives 14

IV. Stakeholders 15

V. Key Messages 19

Message Tree 20

VI. The Strategy 21

- Objective 1: To increase public awareness of and support for the National Action Plan 22

- Objective 2: Promote adherence to Decree 8987/2012 at the local and regional levels 24

- Objective 3: To encourage policy change to support the National Action Plan 25

- Objective 4: To mobilize relevant stakeholders to combat WFCL 26

VII. Measuring Results 27

VIII. Conclusion 28

Annex 1 Decree 8987 29

3

Executive summary

In November 2013 the Government of Lebanon adopted the National Action Plan (NAP) to Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon by 2016. The Plan was prepared by the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour (NSC) under the stewardship of the Ministry of Labour and in collaboration with IPEC-ILO – Regional Office for Arab States, and was launched by the President of the Republic General Michel Suleiman on 7 November 2013.

This follows the issuance of the Decree No. 8987, endorsed by the Lebanese Government and signed by the President of the Republic in September 2012, prohibiting the employment of children under the age of 18 and states that all types of work that may harm the health, safety or morals of children.

Informed by two workshops, this National-awareness Raising Strategy (NAS) outlines the key activities to be undertaken in order to effectively inform the public and engage national stakeholders in the implementation of the NAP. The implementation of the NAS will be led by a media sub-committee formed by a decision of the Minister of Labour.

After engaging with various stakeholders and potential donors, the media sub-committee will prepare a detailed implementation, monitoring and evaluation plan including a full budget. It will then submit it to the National Steering Committee for approval, in coordination and collaboration with the Child Labour Unit at the Ministry of Labour

The STraTegy ObjecTiveS

Over a 24-month period (2014-2016), the media sub-committee of the NSC will seek to:(1) Increase public awareness and support for the National Action Plan by promoting a clear, consistent and coherent communication campaign, producing and disseminating public information materials, making information on the WFCL accessible online and through social networks, ensure that the public is kept informed of the progress of the NAP, and engaging with the media on a regular basis, and linking the campaign to national days.(2) Promote adherence to Decree 8987/2012 at the local level by informing and enabling local and regional authorities, educators, relevant Ministries and the National Social Security Fund to play their part.(3) Encourage policy change by lobbying Lebanese lawmakers and political parties.(4) Mobilize national stakeholders to combat WFCL, including the private sector, trade unions, civil society organizations, and the religious establishment and university students.

4

STakehOlderS

The success of the strategy depends on the engagement of a variety of stakeholders, whose roles are clearly defined in the strategy. The list includes, but is not limited to, the Ministry of Labour, National Steering Committee members, the Child Labour Unit, the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL), the Association of Lebanese Industrialists (ALI), the civil society, the religious leaders, the political parties, the students, the International Labour Organization, the families of child labourers, child labourers, Members of Parliament, local authorities such as mayors (and makhateers), governors, municipalities, and other government bodies such as the National Employment Office, teachers and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

MeaSuring reSulTS

The media sub-committee will present a quarterly progress report to the NSC outlining the performance of the plan against specific, measurable and time bound indicators. Moreover, final evaluation report will be conducted by an external independent consultant.

5

I. Background

Whilst child labour takes many forms, a priority is to eliminate, without delay, the worst forms of child labour as defined by Article 3 of ILO Convention No. 182 concerning the prohibition and immediate action for the elimination of the worst forms of child labour:

(a) All forms of slavery or practices similar to slavery, such as the sale and trafficking of children, debt bondage and serfdom and forced or compulsory labour, including forced or compulsory recruitment of children for use in armed conflict;

(b) The use, procuring or offering of a child for prostitution, for the production of pornography or for pornographic performances;

(c) The use, procuring or offering of a child for illicit activities, in particular for the production and trafficking of drugs as defined in the relevant international treaties;

(d) Work which, by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children.

The worst forms of child labour (WFCL) identified in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) are to be eliminated immediately and unconditionally in any country in which they exist. Those types referred to in paragraph (d) may vary from one country to another, exposing children to different hazardous circumstances, and they are known as conditional forms of child labour.1 These types of labour and their accompanying conditions are usually defined by the relevant parties at the national level such as the Ministry of Labour, workers’ and employers’ organizations in coordination with civil society organizations. For example, in Lebanon, there are no children working in mines or in steel plants but there are children working in industrial establishments and agriculture. It is therefore important to define the Lebanese types of WFCL.

Decree No. 8987, endorsed by the Lebanese Government and signed by the President of the Republic in September 2012, prohibits the employment of children under the age of 18 and states that all types of work that may harm the health, safety or morals of children are completely prohibited in Lebanon (Annex 1). It also defines a new list of the most hazardous types of work (in conformity with Paragraph (d) of C.182). The Decree was informed by a study carried out by the Ministry of Labour and the American University of Beirut (Public Health Department) with the technical and financial support of the ILO’s International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).

6

1 Children of legal working age in a country can perform these jobs on the condition that the accompanied health, social, psychological and moral hazards are removed.

II. Introduction

The National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst forms of child Labour by 2016 was launched by the President of the Republic General Michel Suleiman on 7 November 2013, in the presence of concerned ministers, MPs, representatives from concerned embassies, and many political, economic, social and religious personalities. At the same time the NAP was adopted by the Government of Lebanon. Eliminate the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Lebanon by 2016, The Plan was developed by the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour (NSC) under the stewardship of the Ministry of Labour and with the collaboration of the Child Labour unit in Lebanon, in cooperation with ILO – IPEC, Regional Office for the Arab States. It was designated to be implemented by 2016 which coincides with the deadline set by the second ILO Global Report on Child Labour2.

The NAP focuses on 11 strategic areas for the elimination of child labour: legislation and law enforcement, free and compulsory education, integration into the education system, economic opportunities for parents and youth of working age, capacity building, development services centres, local authorities, local community and community leaders, prevention, withdrawal and rehabilitation.

This communication strategy accompanies the implementation of the National Action Plan over a three-year period (2014-2016). It outlines the key activities to be undertaken in order to effectively inform the public and communicate with national stakeholders on the objectives and activities of the NAP, and it identifies the audiences and stakeholders it wishes to engage with.

The Strategy is informed by two workshops facilitated by an independent communication consultant commissioned by the International Labour Organization and the Child Labour Unit at the Ministry of Labour. The first workshop was held over two consecutive days in October 2012 with members of the NSC and the second also over two days (1 March and 7 June 2013) with national media representatives, in order to incorporate their comments.

After a desk review of national and international documents relating to the WFCL, including the National Action Plan, the Ministry of Labour and the ILO presented a draft awareness raising strategy to the NSC and other stakeholders for in-depth discussion and national endorsement.

Chaired by the Minister of Labour, the Committee is composed of representatives from Government (in particular the Ministries of Social Affairs, Education, Interior and Municipalities, Justice, Health and Agriculture), employer and worker organizations, and civil society. As such it represents the main national stakeholders engaged in efforts to combat child labour in Lebanon. All members of the Committee had the opportunity to express their views before receiving the final draft strategy for final comments and for adopting the strategy at the national level.

7

2 ILO: The end of child labour: Within reach, REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL, Global Report under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Report I (B), INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONFERENCE, 95th Session, Geneva, 2006

STrucTure Of The nSc (aS per decree 5137):

Chair Minister of Labour

Vice chairman Director General of the Ministry of Labour

Members Representatives from National Employment Office, National Social Security Fund, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, General Confederation of Lebanese Workers, Association of Lebanese Industrialists, three members from civil society organizations concerned with child labour issues (appointed by Ministry of Labour), and two members from Ministry of Labour (one as a rapporteur).

A media sub-committee of the NSC is responsible for the implementation of the awareness raising strategy, with the assistance of a communication consultant responsible for overall coordination and technical oversight of its implementation. The media sub-committee will also monitor the implementation of the campaign and submit quarterly reports to the NSC on its progress.

Support will be provided by the Government of Lebanon (including the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Information, and the National Audiovisual Media Council), the International Labour Organization, the private sector, worker representatives and civil society organizations.

The Strategy is an internal document that guides the communication and information work of the NSC but copies are available to the public upon request.

As several of the activities outlined herein require collaboration with external partners, an adjusted implementation plan will be produced during the first 6 months once their feasibility has been assessed and availability of funds has been determined.

This document is to be considered a work in progress, and is likely to evolve in view of the progress of the National Action Plan.

8 9

National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour by 2016

Strategic Interventions: Objectives & Outcomes

10

Stra

tegi

c A

rea

Obj

ectiv

eO

utco

me

Legi

slat

ion

and

Law

E

nfor

cem

ent

Free

an

d co

mpu

lsor

y ed

ucat

ion

Inte

grat

ion

into

th

e ed

ucat

ion

syst

em

Eco

nom

ic o

ppor

tuni

ties

for p

aren

ts a

nd y

outh

of

wor

king

age

By

the

end

of 2

015,

all

Leba

nese

legi

slat

ion

is c

ompa

tible

w

ith th

e in

tern

atio

nal C

onve

ntio

ns an

d Pr

otoc

ols r

egar

ding

ch

ild ri

ghts

and

is re

ady

to b

e im

plem

ente

d.

By

the

end

of 2

016,

all

child

ren

of t

he a

ge o

f pr

imar

y ed

ucat

ion

bene

fit f

rom

thei

r rig

ht to

fre

e an

d co

mpu

lsor

y ed

ucat

ion

as p

er th

e N

atio

nal E

duca

tion

Stra

tegy

201

0.

By

the

star

t of

2016

, all

child

ren

with

draw

n fr

om th

e w

orst

fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur a

re re

inte

grat

ed in

to th

e ed

ucat

iona

l sy

stem

.

Pare

nts

of c

hild

ren

with

draw

n fr

om t

he w

orst

for

ms

of

child

lab

our

and

yout

h of

wor

king

age

obt

ain

adeq

uate

jo

bs th

at e

nabl

e th

em to

impr

ove

thei

r eco

nom

ic a

nd so

cial

co

nditi

ons.

All

exis

ting

legi

slat

ion

conc

erni

ng c

hild

labo

ur is

revi

ewed

, ne

w l

aws

are

form

ulat

ed a

nd p

repa

red,

and

mec

hani

sms

are

esta

blis

hed

for t

heir

appl

icat

ion,

ens

urin

g ad

ditio

n of

a

prov

isio

n re

late

d to

man

dato

ry im

plem

enta

tion.

By

the

end

of 2

014,

the

reg

ulat

ory

decr

ees

for

free

and

co

mpu

lsor

y ed

ucat

ion

are

endo

rsed

.

By

the

end

of 2

014,

the

sch

ool

supp

ort

prog

ram

me

is

bein

g de

sign

ed a

nd s

anct

ione

d in

acc

orda

nce

with

leg

al

requ

irem

ents

.

By

the

end

of 2

015,

the

qua

lity

of s

ervi

ces

prov

ided

by

scho

ols

has

impr

oved

.

Scho

olin

g su

ppor

t is

pro

vide

d to

all

child

ren

in n

eed

by

mid

-201

5.

Scho

ol r

eint

egra

tion

is p

rovi

ded

for

all

scho

ol d

rop-

outs

by

end

201

5.

Acc

eler

ated

voc

atio

nal

trai

ning

and

for

mal

edu

catio

n is

pr

ovid

ed fo

r all

inte

rest

ed c

hild

ren

by e

nd 2

015.

The

eco

nom

ic c

ondi

tions

of

fam

ilies

who

se c

hild

ren

have

be

en w

ithdr

awn

from

the

wor

st f

orm

s of

chi

ld la

bour

are

im

prov

ed.

11

Stra

tegi

c A

rea

Obj

ectiv

eO

utco

me

Cap

acity

Bui

ldin

g

Dev

elop

men

t Se

rvic

es

Cen

tres

Loca

l aut

horit

ies

By

end

2015

, soc

iety

is a

war

e of

, acc

epts

resp

onsi

bilit

y fo

r, an

d co

ntrib

utes

to

the

elim

inat

ion

of t

he w

orst

for

ms

of

child

labo

ur in

Leb

anon

.

By

end

2016

, th

e w

orst

for

ms

of c

hild

lab

our

in t

he

geog

raph

ical

are

as o

f ea

ch d

evel

opm

ent

serv

ices

cen

tre

are

elim

inat

ed.

By

end

2016

, loc

al a

utho

ritie

s are

awar

e of

and

con

trib

utin

g to

the

elim

inat

ion

of th

e w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

.

By

end

2014

, st

udie

s ha

ve

been

co

nduc

ted

and

docu

men

tatio

n co

mpi

led

for

dete

rmin

ing

the

role

s of

the

ac

tors

inv

olve

d in

elim

inat

ing

the

wor

st f

orm

s of

chi

ld

labo

ur.

By

end

2014

, ap

prox

imat

ely

5000

ind

ivid

uals

hav

e be

en

trai

ned

from

the

priv

ate

and

publ

ic s

ecto

rs a

nd f

rom

civ

il so

ciet

y in

28

dist

ricts

.

By

end

2014

, the

cap

acity

of

all s

take

hold

ers

has

been

bui

lt in

soc

ial s

afet

y ne

ts, n

etw

orks

, coo

rdin

atio

n an

d ad

voca

cy.

Rai

se a

war

enes

s of

the

staf

f at

the

Dev

elop

men

t Ser

vice

s C

entr

es o

n th

e pr

oble

m o

f ch

ild la

bour

.

Rai

se a

war

enes

s am

ongs

t par

ents

of

the

serv

ices

pro

vide

d by

the

cent

res

and

the

serio

usne

ss o

f th

e pr

oble

m o

f ch

ild

labo

ur.

Ref

erra

l m

echa

nism

s ar

e de

velo

ped,

th

roug

h fo

rgin

g pa

rtne

rshi

ps b

etw

een

the

Dev

elop

men

t Se

rvic

es C

entr

es

and

CSO

s lo

cate

d in

sam

e ge

ogra

phic

al a

rea,

in

orde

r to

gui

de t

he w

orki

ng c

hild

ren

tow

ards

sch

ool

supp

ort

prog

ram

mes

in p

artn

ersh

ip w

ith th

e M

inis

try

of E

duca

tion,

an

d to

gui

de t

heir

pare

nts

tow

ards

sup

port

pro

gram

mes

fo

r par

ents

of

wor

king

chi

ldre

n.

Gov

erno

rs a

nd m

ayor

s ar

e m

ore

awar

e of

and

are

pla

ying

an

act

ive

role

in th

e el

imin

atio

n of

the

wor

st fo

rms o

f ch

ild

labo

ur.

Hea

ds o

f th

e m

unic

ipal

ities

and

uni

ons

of m

unic

ipal

ities

an

d m

ayor

s ar

e m

ore

awar

e of

and

are

pla

ying

an

activ

e ro

le in

com

batin

g th

e w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

.

12

Stra

tegi

c A

rea

Obj

ectiv

eO

utco

me

Loca

l co

mm

unity

an

d co

mm

unity

lead

ers

Prev

entio

n

By

end

2016

, NG

Os

and

loca

l com

mun

ities

bec

ome

awar

e of

and

are

eff

ectiv

e in

elim

inat

ing

the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

la

bour

in L

eban

on.

By

end

2015

, Leb

anes

e so

ciet

y ac

quire

s so

lid a

nd c

oher

ent

prot

ectio

n m

echa

nism

s th

at a

re a

ble

to p

reve

nt c

hild

ren

from

eng

agin

g in

the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur.

Task

forc

es, i

nclu

ding

mem

bers

of

civi

l soc

iety

asso

ciat

ions

, w

orke

rs’ a

nd e

mpl

oyer

s’ or

gani

zatio

ns, u

nive

rsity

stu

dent

s, te

ache

rs in

sch

ools

and

tech

nica

l/vo

catio

nal i

nstit

utes

, are

tr

aine

d in

all

Leba

nese

regi

ons.

Aw

aren

ess

is r

aise

d th

roug

h co

mm

erci

al a

nd r

ecre

atio

nal

cent

res

and

publ

ic p

lace

s an

d th

roug

h so

cial

net

wor

ks.

Aw

aren

ess

cam

paig

ns a

re c

arrie

d ou

t th

roug

h em

ploy

ers

and

labo

ur u

nion

s an

d of

fices

of

the

Nat

iona

l So

cial

Se

curit

y Fu

nd.

Aw

aren

ess

is r

aise

d on

chi

ld l

abou

r an

d its

wor

st f

orm

s am

ong

and

thro

ugh

relig

ious

lead

ers.

A s

peci

aliz

ed j

uven

ile p

olic

e un

it is

for

med

with

in t

he

Inte

rnal

Sec

urity

For

ces

(ISF

) to

pre

vent

the

eng

agem

ent

of c

hild

ren

in th

e w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

.

Cap

acity

of

scho

ols

is in

crea

sed

(stu

dent

s, te

achi

ng s

taff

an

d sc

hool

adm

inis

trat

ion,

incl

udin

g pa

rent

s’ co

mm

ittee

s)

on p

reve

ntin

g ch

ildre

n fr

om b

eing

dra

wn

into

the

wor

st

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

.

The

cap

aciti

es o

f co

ncer

ned

NG

Os

are

stre

ngth

ened

in

prot

ectin

g ch

ildre

n fr

om th

e w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

.

Cap

acity

and

rol

e of

lab

our

insp

ectio

n au

thor

ities

and

of

the

Nat

iona

l Em

ploy

men

t A

genc

y is

act

ivat

ed a

nd it

s ca

paci

ty s

tren

gthe

ned

in t

he a

rea

of p

reve

ntin

g th

e w

orst

fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur.

13

Stra

tegi

c A

rea

Obj

ectiv

eO

utco

me

With

draw

al

Reh

abili

tatio

n

By

end

2016

, all

child

ren

expo

sed

to t

he w

orst

for

ms

of

child

labo

ur h

ave

been

with

draw

n.

By

end

2016

, all

child

ren

who

hav

e be

en w

ithdr

awn

from

th

e w

orst

for

ms

of c

hild

labo

ur h

ave

been

reh

abili

tate

d in

pr

ofes

sion

al r

ehab

ilita

tion

cent

res

esta

blis

hed

in v

ario

us

Leba

nese

reg

ions

, by

mid

-201

4, t

o pr

ovid

e ps

ycho

logi

cal,

heal

th a

nd s

ocia

l ser

vice

s.

Geo

grap

hica

l lo

calit

ies

that

inc

lude

d th

e la

rges

t nu

mbe

rs

of c

hild

ren

expo

sed

to th

e w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

are

de

term

ined

.

Futu

re a

spira

tions

of

child

ren

with

draw

n fr

om t

he w

orst

fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur a

re a

ckno

wle

dged

.

Com

mun

ities

are

est

ablis

hed

to a

id c

oord

inat

ion

betw

een

labo

ur

asso

ciat

ions

, em

ploy

ers’

orga

niza

tions

, ci

vil

soci

ety,

mun

icip

aliti

es a

nd u

nion

s of

mun

icip

aliti

es,

the

Inte

rnat

iona

l Se

curit

y Fo

rces

and

ins

pect

ors

from

the

M

inis

try

of L

abou

r.

Soci

al r

ehab

ilita

tion

of a

ll ch

ildre

n w

ithdr

awn

from

the

w

orst

form

s of

chi

ld la

bour

has

bee

n ac

hiev

ed.

Med

ical

reh

abili

tatio

n of

all

child

ren

with

draw

n fr

om t

he

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur h

as b

een

achi

eved

.

Psyc

holo

gica

l reh

abili

tatio

n of

all

child

ren

with

draw

n fr

om

the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur h

as b

een

achi

eved

.

III. National Awareness Raising Strategy Objectives

The overall goal of the Awareness Raising Strategy is to support the National Action Plan’s efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour in Lebanon by 2016. It seeks to achieve four objectives that were set after a series of consultations and workshops with various stakeholders, including Lebanese media representatives.

Overall, the Strategy seeks to provide visibility for the work of the NAP, promote adherence to its values, lobby for institutional and legislative change and mobilize support for the attainment of its goals by pursuing the following objectives:

1. To increase public awareness of the objectives and activities of the National Action Plan 2. To promote adherence to Decree 8987 at the local and regional levels3. To encourage policy change to support the NAP in line with international standards4. To mobilize national stakeholders to act to eliminate the WFCL

14

INCREASE AWARENESS

OF NAP

ENCOURAGEPOLICYCHANGE

PROMOTE ADHERENCE

TO DECREE 8987

MOBILIZENATIONAL

STAKEHOLDERS

IV. Stakeholders

The success of the campaign depends on the participation, performance and coordination of many stakeholders, including members of the NSC and other national partners.

As chair of the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour and the Government’s Executive branch with a continuous role in protecting children from exploitation in the workplace, the Ministry of Labour plays a multifaceted role that combines standard-setting with awareness-raising, mobilization and enforcement. The Ministry will lead field action and develop information, education and communication materials; develop guidelines on the implementation of Decree 8987; disseminate results of inspection of compliance with labour laws; conduct a mapping of hotspots on WFCL in Lebanon; manage a WFCL hotline, and lead several other initiatives.

In addition to their participation in the work of the NSC, trade unions, employer representatives and civil society organizations can leverage their own channels in support of the Strategy.

The General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) has formed a central unit and sub-units in districts across Lebanon, mobilized 450 volunteers to combat child labour, conducted awareness raising sessions for parents and children, lobbied parliament to waive school fees and include provisions on WFCL in a recent decree on occupational safety and health, and provided stationary and schoolbooks to disadvantaged children. CGTL’s network of activists and members, in particular in the education sector, will help to disseminate NAP’s key messages across the country and raise awareness on the worst forms of child labour. Communication and training products developed by the NAP’s media sub-committee will be shared with the CGTL membership on a regular basis, as well as ILO products such as SCREAM (Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media), the Teacher’s Information Kit and the Guide developed about Decree 8987). With a membership of over 700, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists can support the NAP by disseminating its key messages to some of Lebanon’s most influential employers, and encouraging them declare their commitment to combatting WFCL and to seek certification such as the SA8000 on Social Accountability. Lebanese employers can also provide financial support to efforts to combat the WFCL as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes. Outreach to employers who are not represented in employer organizations, such as those in the informal sector, is also critical, as small Lebanese businesses are more likely to employ child labourers and many children are seasonal workers in agriculture.

In addition to their substantive contribution to the Strategy through the National Steering Committee, civil society 3 actors can mobilize widespread support for the objectives of the NAP by disseminating its key messages and promoting its activities through their networks. This includes religious leaders, political parties, student groups, charities and other institutions.

15

3 Defined as all organizations and associations that exist outside of the state and the market. See http://carnegieendowment.org/pdf/CivilSociety.pdf

Building on the extensive experience of its International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour in over 92 countries, the International Labour Organization supports the efforts of the NSC through technical advisory services, sharing best practices, training constituents and offering a range of tools that have been tried and tested elsewhere – such as SCREAM (Supporting Children’s Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media) and the IPEC Teacher’s Information Kit – this includes support to the NAP’s communication plan. The ILO also leads a global Red Card to Child Labour campaign that can be adapted to Lebanon.

Most of the decisions to expose children to WFCL are taken within the family circle. Parents have an important role to play in preventing their children from becoming child labourers, and in helping to withdraw them from hazardous work. Engaging with the families of child labourers is therefore critical to the success of the National Action Plan. Helping parents to access decent jobs and support services is vital. Sometimes it is also important to convince them of the benefits of educating their children, as well as to inform them of channels of assistance that they can access.

Child labourers must be made aware of their rights and opportunities, and become empowered to seek protection and benefit from the support available to them through the National Action Plan.

Members of Parliament have the mandate to enact laws that can better protect children from the worst forms of child labour. The National Action Plan will seek to engage them through parliamentary committees, and the production of a set of awareness raising products that expound the importance of legislating to enable Lebanon to meet its international obligations to protect children from WFCL.

Local authorities such as mayors (and makhateers), governors, municipalities, and other government bodies such as the National Employment Office are active NAP partners, assisting in the reintegration of child labourers into the education system, promoting compliance with Decree 8987 by local businesses and communities, and offering support services to child labourers and their families. They also represent an important distribution network for key messages on the WFCL.

Teachers can help to spot (actual and potential) school dropouts early on and act to reintegrate child labourers into the education system. By integrating awareness raising materials into their curricula, they can help to reach out to children and their families.

National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has a legal role to oversee the labour market, through conducting labour inspections and enforcing laws relating to the minimum age of work. It offers an important distribution network through its offices across the country and its labour inspectors, as well as its publications.

16 17

Stak

ehol

der

Pos

itio

n on

WF

CL

Des

ired

cha

nge/

act

ion

Min

istr

y of

Lab

our

Trad

e U

nion

s

Em

ploy

ers

Inte

rnat

iona

l La

bour

O

rgan

izat

ion

Chi

ld la

bour

ers

Fam

ilies

of

ch

ild

labo

urer

s

As

chai

r of

the

NSC

and

hos

t to

a C

hild

Lab

our

Uni

t, th

e M

OL

is l

eadi

ng e

ffor

ts t

o el

imin

ate

the

wor

st f

orm

s of

ch

ild la

bour

in L

eban

on b

y 20

16.

The

Gen

eral

Con

fede

ratio

n of

Leb

anes

e W

orke

rs su

ppor

ts

the

elim

inat

ion

of t

he w

orst

for

ms

of c

hild

lab

our,

but

lack

s the

reso

urce

s and

cap

acity

to a

dvoc

ate

for t

heir

right

s. G

CT

L ha

ve a

vas

t dis

trib

utio

n an

d ou

trea

ch n

etw

ork.

Em

ploy

ers

are

ofte

n un

awar

e of

the

fund

amen

tal r

ight

s of

ch

ildre

n, in

par

ticul

ar w

ith r

elat

ion

to t

he w

orst

for

ms

of

child

lab

our.

Ass

ocia

tion

of L

eban

ese

Indu

stria

lists

hav

e m

embe

rshi

p of

ove

r 700

.

Long

stan

ding

par

tner

of

the

MO

L, t

rade

uni

ons

and

empl

oyer

s in

the

figh

t ag

ains

t W

FCL.

Pro

vide

s te

chni

cal

advi

sory

se

rvic

es,

shar

es

best

pr

actic

es,

and

trai

ns

cons

titue

nts.

Chi

ld la

bour

ers

are

awar

e of

the

diffi

culti

es th

ey fa

ce –

but

m

ay la

ck a

war

enes

s of

thei

r fun

dam

enta

l rig

hts

and

of th

e ch

anne

ls o

f as

sist

ance

they

can

tap

into

.

Pare

nts o

f ch

ild la

bour

ers u

sual

ly la

ck th

e m

eans

to su

ppor

t th

eir c

hild

ren

to re

mai

n in

edu

catio

n an

d ar

e of

ten

unaw

are

of th

e ha

zard

ous

cond

ition

s in

whi

ch th

eir

child

ren

wor

k.

The

y al

so la

ck a

cces

s to

sup

port

mec

hani

sms

to b

reak

the

cycl

e of

pov

erty

.

Eff

ectiv

ely

com

mun

icat

e on

the

rol

l ou

t of

the

Nat

iona

l A

ctio

n Pl

an

thro

ugh

stra

tegi

c po

sitio

ning

an

d cl

ear,

cons

iste

nt, a

nd c

oher

ent m

essa

ging

.

Trad

e un

ions

em

pow

ered

to

advo

cate

for

chi

ldre

n’s

right

s an

d to

spe

ak u

p ag

ains

t the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur in

Le

bano

n.

Em

ploy

ers a

re a

war

e of

and

com

mitt

ed to

the

fund

amen

tal

right

s of

chi

ldre

n, i

n lin

e w

ith i

nter

natio

nal

stan

dard

s an

d D

ecre

e 89

87 p

rohi

bitin

g th

e w

orst

for

ms

of c

hild

la

bour

in

Leba

non.

The

y ar

e en

gage

d in

soc

io-e

cono

mic

an

d ed

ucat

iona

l ac

tiviti

es f

or w

orki

ng c

hild

ren

thro

ugh

the

deve

lopm

ent

of a

Cor

pora

te S

ocia

l R

espo

nsib

ility

Pr

ogra

mm

e.

Supp

orts

the

deve

lopm

ent,

impl

emen

tatio

n an

d ev

alua

tion

of th

e N

AP

com

mun

icat

ion

stra

tegy

.

Inte

grat

es N

AP

into

glo

bal

advo

cacy

eff

orts

to

com

bat

child

lab

our

led

by I

PEC

(e.

g. R

ed C

ard

Aga

inst

Chi

ld

Labo

ur)

Chi

ld l

abou

rers

aw

are

of t

heir

fund

amen

tal

right

s an

d em

pow

ered

to

seek

pro

tect

ion

and

supp

ort

and

to s

peak

up

for t

heir

right

s.

Fam

ilies

of

child

labo

urer

s ar

e aw

are

of t

he h

azar

ds t

heir

child

ren

face

at w

ork

and

are

conv

ince

d of

the

valu

e of

full

time

educ

atio

n.

Fam

ilies

kno

w h

ow t

o ac

cess

sup

port

for

the

ir ch

ildre

n’s

soci

o-ec

onom

ic a

nd e

duca

tiona

l rig

hts.

18

Stak

ehol

der

Pos

itio

n on

WF

CL

Des

ired

cha

nge/

act

ion

Civ

il So

ciet

y

Law

mak

ers

Loca

l gov

ernm

ent

Rel

igio

us le

ader

s

Nat

iona

l So

cial

Sec

urity

Fu

nd

Civ

il so

ciet

y ac

tors

pla

y an

im

port

ant

role

in

com

batti

ng

child

labo

ur, b

ut th

eir w

ork

is la

rgel

y un

coor

dina

ted.

Law

mak

ers

are

awar

e of

the

pro

blem

of

child

lab

our

in

Leba

non,

and

rec

ently

pas

sed

Dec

ree

8987

pro

hibi

ting

its

wor

st fo

rms.

Loca

l aut

horit

ies h

ave

sign

ifica

nt o

utre

ach

and

info

rmat

ion

shar

ing

capa

city

.

The

relig

ious

est

ablis

hmen

t rem

ains

influ

entia

l in

Leba

non,

an

d re

ligio

us l

eade

rs c

an e

ffec

tivel

y re

ach

out

to t

heir

follo

wer

s on

the

issu

e of

WFC

L.

Con

duct

s la

bour

insp

ectio

ns a

nd e

nfor

ces

law

s re

latin

g to

th

e m

inim

um a

ge o

f w

ork,

and

has

a s

tron

g di

strib

utio

n ne

twor

k th

roug

h of

fices

, lab

our i

nspe

ctor

s and

pub

licat

ions

.

Civ

il so

ciet

y ac

tors

und

erst

and,

sup

port

and

adv

ocat

e fo

r N

AP

obje

ctiv

es, a

nd fo

rm re

gion

al c

oord

inat

ion

plat

form

s.

Law

mak

ers

are

conv

ince

d of

the

im

port

ance

of

polic

y ch

ange

to c

omba

t the

WFC

L an

d en

actin

g re

leva

nt la

ws.

Loca

l au

thor

ities

und

erst

and,

sup

port

and

adv

ocat

e fo

r N

AP

obje

ctiv

es.

Rel

igio

us l

eade

rs u

nder

stan

d, s

uppo

rt a

nd a

dvoc

ate

for

NA

P ob

ject

ives

, lin

king

the

elim

inat

ion

of W

FCL

to

relig

ious

val

ues

thro

ugh

publ

ic s

erm

ons,

med

ia o

utle

ts a

nd

othe

r cha

nnel

s of

com

mun

icat

ion.

NSS

F st

aff

unde

rsta

nd,

supp

ort

and

advo

cate

fo

r N

AP

obje

ctiv

es,

in p

artic

ular

tho

se r

elat

ing

to t

he s

ocia

l pr

otec

tion

floor

.

V. Key Messages

The success of the National Action Plan hinges on the public’s improved understanding of the worst forms of child labour and of the rights of children to protection and education more broadly.

In line with the objectives of the National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour, the Awareness Raising Strategy seeks to highlight a core set of targeted messages that emphasize the strengthening of legal and institutional frameworks, access to education, the role of the private sector, and support to child labourers and their families.

The NAP seeks to galvanize stakeholder support for its objectives by presenting a consistent and coherent set of messages that are communicated through a variety of channels.

The overall message to be conveyed by the NAP is that “the worst forms of child labour must be eliminated by 2016”. This then branches out into five main points and their relevant supporting messages that are tailored to specific audiences:1. We must bring national laws in line with international standards, and enforce new laws (targets: the government, policymakers, civil society, trade unions)2. Child labourers have a right to educational support and training (targets: child labourers and their families, employers and educators)3. Combating the WFCL is our collective responsibility (targets: the government, trade unions, civil society, educators, parents, employers, local and regional authorities, university students, etc.)4. Combating child labour makes good business sense (targets: employers)5. Government supports children who are at risk or working and their families (targets: child labourers and their families to inform them of available services and inspires public confidence in the NAP)

19

Message Tree

20

The WOrST fOrMS Of child labOur MuST be eliMinaTed by 2016

National laws must be in line with

international standards

Parliament must enact

further national laws against

WFCL

More and better

enforcement through labour

inspection

Children have a right to education

Primary education is compulsory and free in Lebanon

Decree 8987/2012

prohibits the employment of minors under

the age of 18 in hazardous work

Vocational training

and formal education can break the cycle of poverty that

entrenches child labour

Fighting WFCL is everyone’s responsibility

Parents and employers who

encourage child labour are

breaking the law

Local authorities and

community leaders must track, identify and intervene to stop WFCL

Teachers and social workers must identify

and help children before they drop out

Combating child labour makes good

business sense

Children left uneducated or damaged physically or emotionally by early and hazardous work have

little chance of becoming productive

adult workers

Public exposure to the use of

child labour can cause

immeasurable damage to the

company’s image

Companies must set high standards on the use of

child labour in their own

operations and seek to extend these among the business community including

subcontractors

Governments supports child labourers and their families

The Ministry of Labour’s Child Labour Unit

can be reached at

E-mail:atfal@clu.gov.lb

Direct Line:01-276284Website:

www.clu.gov.lb

Children can access education and other support at

Development Services Centres

Psychological, medical

and social rehabilitation

centres are being

established across Lebanon

VI. The Strategy

Building on the strengths of the multiple stakeholders involved in the National Action Plan, the Awareness Raising Strategy outlines a series of time bound and measurable activities to achieve its stated objectives.

Over a 24-month period, the media sub-committee of the National Committee will seek to: (5) Increase public awareness and support for the National Action Plan by promoting a clear, consistent and coherent communication campaign, producing and disseminating public information materials, making information on the WFCL accessible on the website of the Child Labour Unit at the Ministry of Labour and through social networks, ensure that the public is kept informed of the progress of the NAP, and engaging with the media on a regular basis, and linking the campaign to national days.(6) Promote adherence to Decree 8987/2012 at the local and regional levels by informing and enabling local and regional authorities, educators, relevant Ministries and the National Social Security Fund to play their part.(7) Encourage policy change by lobbying lawmakers and political parties.(8) Mobilize national stakeholders to combat WFCL, including the private sector, trade unions, civil society organizations, the religious establishment and university students.

After the launch of the National Action Plan, the media sub-committee will be formed by a decision of the Minister of Labour in his capacity as head of the NSC, in consultation with other members, constituting up to five members of the NSC. Its overall activities will be managed and coordinated by a communications expert to be appointed by the Committee in coordination with the Unit for Combatting Child Labour at the Ministry of Labour during the first quarter of 2014.

After engaging with various stakeholders and potential donors, the media sub-committee will develop a detailed implementation; monitoring and evaluation plan including a full budget and submit it to the National Committee for approval, in coordination and with the collaboration of the Unit for Combatting Child Labour at the Ministry of Labour.

21

22

Obj

ectiv

e 1:

To

incr

ease

pub

lic a

war

enes

s of

and

sup

port

for

the

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Pla

n

Out

com

e 1.

1

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 1.

2

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 1.

3

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 1.

4

Act

iviti

es

The

NA

P ca

mpa

ign

agai

nst t

he W

FCL

is p

erce

ived

as

clea

r, co

here

nt a

nd c

onsi

sten

t.

• Lau

nch

a na

tiona

l com

petit

ion

to d

esig

n th

e lo

go o

f th

e ca

mpa

ign

on W

FCL

at th

e la

unch

of

the

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Plan

. •

Onc

e se

lect

ed b

y th

e N

SC, t

he lo

go w

ill b

e de

velo

ped

with

the

supp

ort o

f a

desi

gn a

genc

y –

whi

ch w

ill a

dapt

it to

all

the

com

mun

icat

ion

prod

ucts

of

the

cam

paig

n.•

Ens

ure

cons

iste

nt m

essa

ging

by

deve

lopi

ng a

n in

tern

al Q

&A

/key

mes

sage

doc

umen

t on

the

WFC

L to

be

circ

ulat

ed to

al

l spo

kesp

erso

ns, a

nd m

embe

rs o

f th

e N

atio

nal S

teer

ing

Com

mitt

ee fo

r Com

batti

ng C

hild

Lab

our.

Publ

ic in

form

atio

n m

ater

ials

on

the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur in

Leb

anon

are

pro

duce

d an

d di

ssem

inat

ed.

• Pr

oduc

e an

d di

ssem

inat

e po

ster

s on

WFC

L.•

Bill

boar

ds c

ampa

ign

on D

ecre

e 89

87 a

cros

s Le

bano

n.•

Leafl

ets

on W

FCL

that

out

line

the

prov

isio

ns o

f D

ecre

e 89

87.

• Pa

rtne

r with

a p

rivat

e m

obile

tele

com

s co

mpa

ny to

prin

t WFC

L m

essa

ges

and

logo

on

phon

e ca

rds.

• Pa

rtne

r with

OG

ER

O a

nd th

e M

inis

try

of T

elec

omm

unic

atio

ns to

prin

t WFC

L m

essa

ges

and

logo

on

phon

e bi

lls.

• Pa

rtne

r with

Ele

ctric

ity o

f Le

bano

n (E

DL)

to p

rint W

FCL

mes

sage

s an

d lo

go o

n el

ectr

icity

bill

s.•

Part

ner w

ith a

ban

k to

pro

mot

e W

FCL

mes

sage

s an

d lo

go a

t loc

al b

ranc

hes

and

on n

ewly

issu

ed c

redi

t car

ds.

• Pa

rtne

r w

ith th

e M

inis

try

of F

inan

ce a

nd th

e M

inis

try

of T

elec

omm

unic

atio

ns is

sue

post

al a

nd fi

nanc

ial s

tam

ps w

ith

WFC

L m

essa

ges

and

logo

.•

Part

ner w

ith th

e N

atio

nal L

otte

ry (Y

anas

eeb)

to p

rom

ote

WFC

L m

essa

ges

and

logo

.

Info

rmat

ion

abou

t the

WFC

L is

acc

essi

ble

onlin

e an

d th

roug

h so

cial

net

wor

ks

• U

pgra

de th

e w

ebsi

te o

f th

e C

hild

Lab

our U

nit a

t the

Min

istr

y of

Lab

our a

nd k

eep

it up

to d

ate.

• Is

sue

a Q

uart

erly

E-N

ewsl

ette

r on

the

prog

ress

of

the

cam

paig

n.•

Cre

ate

a Fa

cebo

ok p

age

on th

e W

FCL

cam

paig

n.•

Prom

ote

the

cam

paig

n th

roug

h th

e C

hild

Lab

our U

nit’s

Fac

eboo

k, T

witt

er a

nd Y

ouTu

be a

ccou

nts.

• M

ake

all c

omm

unic

atio

n pr

oduc

ts a

vaila

ble

onlin

e in

clud

ing:

vid

eos,

post

ers,

info

grap

hics

and

fact

shee

ts.

• O

rgan

ize

Twitt

er Q

&A

ses

sion

s on

the

WFC

L w

ith th

e M

inis

ter o

f La

bour

and

oth

er e

xper

ts

The

pub

lic a

re a

war

e of

mile

ston

es re

ache

d as

par

t of

the

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Plan

.

• C

omm

unic

atio

n pl

anni

ng c

alen

dar i

s de

velo

ped

that

iden

tifies

NA

P m

ilest

ones

to b

e pr

omot

ed th

roug

h pr

ess

rele

ases

, m

edia

inte

rvie

ws

and

brie

fings

, and

onl

ine

and

soci

al m

edia

.•

Prod

uce

pres

s re

leas

es a

bout

NA

P in

itiat

ives

and

mile

ston

es.

• N

ews

abou

t NA

P m

ilest

ones

regu

larly

feat

ures

on

the

Chi

ld L

abou

r Uni

t web

site

.

23

Out

com

e 1.

5

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 1.

6

Act

iviti

es

Leba

nese

med

ia d

emon

stra

te a

gre

ater

und

erst

andi

ng o

f W

FCL

and

cove

r the

issu

e m

ore

regu

larly

.

• C

reat

e a

cont

act l

ist o

f jo

urna

lists

who

are

inte

rest

ed in

chi

ld la

bour

and

sha

re n

ews

item

s an

d ne

wsl

ette

rs.

• Is

sue

pres

s re

leas

es to

hig

hlig

ht m

ilest

ones

and

act

iviti

es.

• O

rgan

ize

med

ia w

orks

hops

to in

trod

uce

jour

nalis

ts to

Dec

ree

8987

on

child

labo

ur, a

nd th

e pa

rt re

late

d to

WFC

L.•

Pitc

h st

orie

s to

the

med

ia a

bout

the

WFC

L to

pro

mot

e m

edia

cov

erag

e.

• E

ngag

e m

agaz

ines

for f

eatu

res

abou

t chi

ld la

bour

in L

eban

on.

• R

eque

st fr

ee a

ir tim

e fr

om T

V s

tatio

ns v

ia th

e M

inis

try

of L

abou

r or M

inis

try

of I

nfor

mat

ion

to r

un T

V s

pots

• Pr

omot

e W

FCL

awar

enes

s in

diff

eren

t seg

men

ts s

uch

as th

e w

eath

er, c

hild

ren’

s pr

ogra

mm

es, d

ram

a an

d ta

lk s

how

s. •

Prod

uce

and

broa

dcas

t TV

spo

ts a

bout

WFC

L an

d D

ecre

e 89

87.

• O

rgan

ize

a se

ries

of m

eetin

gs w

ith T

V s

crip

twrit

ers

and

Dire

ctor

s of

Pro

gram

min

g, in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith s

yndi

cate

s, or

indi

vidu

ally,

to p

rese

nt th

e D

ecre

e an

d di

scus

s th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

TV

pro

gram

mes

that

adv

ocat

e fo

r its

pro

visi

ons.

• In

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith th

e N

atio

nal M

edia

Cou

ncil,

the

NSC

will

hol

d a

sess

ion

with

TV

new

s di

rect

ors,

to e

xpla

in th

e de

cree

and

dev

elop

a C

ode

of C

ondu

ct to

rea

ch a

n ag

reem

ent t

o us

e th

e ne

ws

to p

rom

ote

the

Dec

ree,

thro

ugh

feat

ure

stor

ies

and

repo

rts.

• C

olla

bora

te w

ith L

eban

ese

radi

o st

atio

ns fo

r the

pro

mot

ion

of ta

lk s

how

pro

gram

mes

on

the

topi

c, h

ostin

g ex

pert

s on

th

e is

sue,

cov

erin

g re

late

d ne

ws

and

prod

ucin

g re

late

d ra

dio

dram

as.

Link

com

batti

ng W

FCL

to n

atio

nal e

vent

s

• M

othe

r’s D

ay (M

arch

21)

: Dev

elop

and

dis

sem

inat

e ke

y m

essa

ges

abou

t the

rol

e of

mot

hers

in c

omba

tting

the

WFC

L an

d or

gani

ze p

ublic

ized

trip

s fo

r mot

her t

o w

orkp

lace

s of

WFC

L•

Wor

ld D

ay A

gain

st C

hild

Lab

our (

June

12)

: Eng

age

with

the

med

ia o

n W

DA

CL

thro

ugh

inte

rvie

ws,

pres

s re

leas

es a

nd

feat

ure

artic

les.

Org

anis

e a

brie

fing

for j

ourn

alis

ts o

n th

e pr

ogre

ss o

f th

e N

atio

nal A

ctio

n Pl

an.

24

Obj

ectiv

e 2:

Pro

mot

e ad

here

nce

to D

ecre

e 89

87/2

012

at th

e lo

cal a

nd r

egio

nal l

evel

s

Out

com

e 2.

1

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 2.

2

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 2.

3

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 2.

4

Act

iviti

es

Loca

l and

regi

onal

aut

horit

ies

are

play

ing

thei

r par

t in

prom

otin

g aw

aren

ess

and

enfo

rcem

ent o

f D

ecre

e 89

87.

• M

inis

try

of I

nter

ior a

nd M

unic

ipal

ities

to d

istr

ibut

e in

form

atio

n m

ater

ials

and

cop

y of

Dec

ree

8987

to g

over

nors

in a

ll re

gion

s.• M

inis

try

of In

terio

r and

Mun

icip

aliti

es to

hos

t a b

riefin

g lu

nch

for g

over

nors

to e

xpla

in th

e D

ecre

e’s k

ey p

rovi

sion

s and

hi

ghlig

ht fi

ndin

gs o

f th

e m

appi

ng o

f W

FCL

hots

pots

, whi

le o

utlin

ing

thei

r rol

e in

impl

emen

ting

the

NA

P.•

Min

istr

y of

Int

erio

r and

Mun

icip

aliti

es to

circ

ulat

e a

pled

ge to

be

sign

ed b

y bu

sine

ss o

wne

rs to

abi

de b

y D

ecre

e 89

87.

• La

unch

of

an a

war

d fo

r chi

ld-f

riend

ly m

unic

ipal

ities

– i.

e. th

ose

that

mak

e pr

ogre

ss in

elim

inat

ing

WFC

L in

thei

r are

a.•

Org

aniz

e a

serie

s of

pre

sent

atio

ns t

o m

ayor

s (m

ukht

ars)

acr

oss

Leba

non

on D

ecre

e 89

87,

outli

ning

the

ir ro

le i

n im

plem

entin

g th

e N

AP.

• N

atio

nal E

mpl

oym

ent O

ffice

to p

rom

ote

thei

r voc

atio

nal t

rain

ing

sess

ions

and

job

sear

ch s

uppo

rt fo

r par

ents

of

child

la

bour

ers.

Chi

ldre

n an

d te

ache

rs a

re a

war

e of

the

ban

on W

FCL

and

activ

ely

supp

ortin

g it.

• T

he M

inis

try

of E

duca

tion

circ

ulat

es D

ecre

e 89

87 a

nd re

leva

nt in

form

atio

n m

ater

ials

to s

choo

l acr

oss

the

coun

try.

• Min

istr

y of

Edu

catio

n in

corp

orat

es st

orie

s on

the

WFC

L in

to th

e na

tiona

l cur

ricul

um th

roug

h te

xtbo

oks,

civi

c ed

ucat

ion

and

else

whe

re a

s ap

prop

riate

. •

Scho

ols

are

enco

urag

ed to

use

read

ing

days

and

boo

k fa

irs to

hig

hlig

ht th

e W

FCL.

Wor

kers

and

em

ploy

ers

in th

e ag

ricul

tura

l sec

tor a

re in

form

ed o

f th

eir r

ight

s an

d re

spon

sibi

litie

s as

per

Dec

ree

8987

• T

he M

inis

try

of A

gric

ultu

re t

o di

ssem

inat

e in

form

atio

n m

ater

ials

rel

atin

g to

Dec

ree

8987

to

coop

erat

ives

and

oth

er

stak

ehol

ders

.•

The

Min

istr

y of

Agr

icul

ture

to d

isse

min

ate

tips

for f

amili

es o

n ho

w to

with

draw

chi

ldre

n fr

om W

FCL

• T

he M

inis

try

of A

gric

ultu

re to

inte

grat

e W

FCL

into

its

annu

al fi

eld

surv

ey a

nd p

ublis

h th

e re

sults

.

Nat

iona

l Soc

ial S

ecur

ity F

und

is p

rom

otin

g ad

here

nce

to D

ecre

e 89

87.

The

NSS

F ca

n su

ppor

t the

nat

iona

l aw

aren

ess

stra

tegy

thro

ugh:

• Pr

omot

ing

the

key

mes

sage

s of

the

NA

P in

its

publ

icat

ions

• D

isse

min

atin

g N

AP

info

rmat

ion

mat

eria

ls in

its

offic

es a

cros

s Le

bano

n •

Dis

trib

utin

g th

e D

ecre

e an

d re

late

d in

form

atio

n m

ater

ials

to b

usin

esse

s th

roug

h N

SSF

insp

ecto

rs.

25

Obj

ectiv

e 3:

To

enco

urag

e po

licy

chan

ge o

n W

FC

L in

Leb

anon

Out

com

e 3.

1

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 3.

2

Act

iviti

es

Mem

bers

of

parli

amen

t are

act

ivel

y su

ppor

ting

the

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Plan

and

aw

are

of th

e ne

ed to

brin

g Le

bane

se la

ws

in li

ne w

ith in

tern

atio

nal l

abou

r sta

ndar

ds

• Pr

oduc

e a

docu

men

tary

on

the

WFC

L in

Leb

anon

targ

etin

g po

licym

aker

s.•

The

Wor

king

Chi

ldre

n’s

Podi

um e

nabl

es c

hild

labo

urer

s to

eng

age

with

mem

bers

of

parli

amen

t via

the

Parli

amen

tary

Fo

rum

for

Dia

logu

e, in

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith th

e C

hild

Lab

our

Uni

t at t

he M

inis

try

of L

abou

r, an

d M

eado

ws

and

Bey

ond

Ass

ocia

tions

in a

dditi

on to

oth

er re

leva

nt o

nes.

• In

col

labo

ratio

n w

ith th

e U

ND

P te

chni

cal s

uppo

rt te

am in

Par

liam

ent,

spec

ializ

ed s

essi

ons

are

held

with

par

liam

enta

ry

com

mitt

ees

to e

xpla

in D

ecre

e 89

87, r

evie

w e

xist

ing

law

s re

late

d to

chi

ld la

bour

and

pro

mot

e ha

rmon

izat

ion

of la

ws

with

in

tern

atio

nal s

tand

ards

on

WFC

L.•

Run

a s

erie

s of

adv

erts

in n

ewsp

aper

s ta

rget

ing

polit

icia

ns, l

awm

aker

s an

d in

fluen

tial fi

gure

s.

Polit

ical

par

ties

supp

ort p

olic

y ch

ange

to c

omba

t WFC

L

• T

he D

ecre

e an

d as

soci

ated

info

rmat

ion

mat

eria

ls w

ill b

e sh

ared

with

pol

itica

l par

ties

thro

ugh

thei

r pol

itica

l lea

ders

and

th

eir r

epre

sent

ativ

es in

Par

liam

ent.

• A

gro

up o

f fo

rmer

WFC

L vi

ctim

s w

ill a

sk th

e Pr

esid

ent o

f th

e R

epub

lic to

rai

se th

e is

sue

of W

FCL

durin

g na

tiona

l re

conc

iliat

ion

talk

s be

twee

n po

litic

al p

artie

s

26

Obj

ectiv

e 4:

To

mob

ilize

sta

keho

lder

s to

com

bat W

FC

L

Out

com

e 4.

1

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 4.

2

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 4.

3

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 4.

4

Act

iviti

es

Out

com

e 4.

5

Act

iviti

es

The

priv

ate

sect

or is

aw

are

of a

nd s

uppo

rts

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f th

e N

atio

nal A

ctio

n Pl

an.

• A

ser

ies

of m

eetin

gs h

eld

with

priv

ate

sect

or re

pres

enta

tives

to p

rese

nt a

nd d

iscu

ss D

ecre

e 89

87.

• E

ncou

rage

Ass

ocia

tion

of L

eban

ese

Indu

stria

lists

(ALI

) to

rais

e aw

aren

ess

on W

FCL

in it

s qu

arte

rly n

ewsl

ette

r.•

Liai

se w

ith c

ertif

ying

bod

ies,

in p

artic

ular

the

SA

8000

on

Soci

al A

ccou

ntab

ility

4 to

info

rm t

hem

of

the

Dec

ree

and

requ

est t

hat i

t is

take

n in

to a

ccou

nt w

hen

asse

ssin

g co

mpa

nies

for c

ertifi

catio

n in

Leb

anon

.•

ALI

mem

bers

and

oth

er e

mpl

oyer

s en

cour

aged

to s

ign

a pl

edge

or

mak

e pu

blic

thei

r co

mm

itmen

t to

com

batti

ng th

e W

FCL.

• Ser

ies

of m

eetin

gs h

eld

with

sel

ecte

d m

ajor

em

ploy

ers

to e

ncou

rage

them

sup

port

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f th

e N

AP

as p

art o

f th

eir C

orpo

rate

Soc

ial R

espo

nsib

ility

por

tfol

io.

The

Gen

eral

Con

fede

ratio

n of

Leb

anes

e W

orke

rs (

CG

TL)

eff

ectiv

ely

com

mun

icat

es t

he o

bjec

tives

of

the

NA

P to

its

mem

bers

hip.

• Com

mun

icat

ion

and

trai

ning

pro

duct

s dev

elop

ed b

y the

NA

P’s m

edia

sub-

com

mitt

ee sh

ared

with

the C

GT

L m

embe

rshi

p on

a re

gula

r bas

is, a

s w

ell a

s IL

O p

rodu

cts

such

as

SCR

EA

M (S

uppo

rtin

g C

hild

ren’

s R

ight

s th

roug

h E

duca

tion,

the

Art

s an

d th

e M

edia

), th

e Te

ache

r’s I

nfor

mat

ion

Kit

and

the

Gui

de d

evel

oped

abo

ut D

ecre

e 89

87).

• CG

TL’

s net

wor

k of

act

ivis

ts a

nd m

embe

rs, i

n pa

rtic

ular

in th

e ed

ucat

ion

sect

or, h

elp

to d

isse

min

ate

NA

P’s k

ey m

essa

ges

acro

ss th

e co

untr

y an

d ra

ise

awar

enes

s of

the

wor

st fo

rms

of c

hild

labo

ur.

Rel

igio

us e

stab

lishm

ent i

s aw

are

of a

nd s

uppo

rts

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f th

e N

atio

nal A

ctio

n Pl

an.

• Se

ries

of m

eetin

gs h

eld

with

prim

ary

relig

ious

lead

ers

in L

eban

on to

pre

sent

and

dis

cuss

Dec

ree

8987

.•

Rel

igio

us le

ader

s ar

ticul

ate

key

mes

sage

s to

the

ir fo

llow

ers

in s

erm

ons

and

othe

r pu

blic

spe

eche

s an

d th

roug

h th

eir

com

mun

icat

ions

net

wor

ks, a

s w

ell a

s to

link

the

ban

on W

FCL

to re

ligio

us v

alue

s.

Civ

il so

ciet

y gr

oups

and

non

-gov

ernm

enta

l org

aniz

atio

ns (b

oth

natio

nal a

nd in

tern

atio

nal)

are

awar

e of

and

sup

port

the

obje

ctiv

es o

f th

e N

atio

nal A

ctio

n Pl

an.

• Se

ries

of m

eetin

gs w

ith s

elec

ted

NG

Os

to p

rese

nt a

nd d

iscu

ss D

ecre

e 89

87 a

nd s

hare

rela

ted

info

rmat

ion

mat

eria

ls.•

Civ

il so

ciet

y gr

oups

dis

sem

inat

e N

AP

mes

sage

s th

roug

h th

eir n

etw

orks

acr

oss

the

coun

try.

Uni

vers

ity s

tude

nts

unde

rsta

nd a

nd s

uppo

rt th

e ob

ject

ives

of

the

Nat

iona

l Act

ion

Plan

.

• U

nive

rsity

stu

dent

s pa

rtic

ipat

e in

NA

P br

andi

ng c

ompe

titio

n.•

Uni

vers

ity s

tude

nts

diss

emin

ate

NA

P ke

y m

essa

ges

amon

g st

uden

t bod

y an

d vo

lunt

eer t

o su

ppor

t the

NA

P.

4 SA

8000

is a

n au

dita

ble

cert

ifica

tion

stan

dard

that

enc

oura

ges

orga

niza

tions

to d

evel

op, m

aint

ain,

and

app

ly s

ocia

lly a

ccep

tabl

e pr

actic

es in

the

wor

kpla

ce. I

t is

base

d on

the

prin

cipl

es o

f in

tern

atio

nal h

uman

rig

hts

norm

s as

des

crib

ed in

In

tern

atio

nal L

abou

r O

rgan

izat

ion

conv

entio

ns, t

he U

nite

d N

atio

ns C

onve

ntio

n on

the

Rig

hts

of t

he C

hild

and

the

Uni

vers

al D

ecla

ratio

n of

Hum

an R

ight

s. I

t mea

sure

s th

e pe

rfor

man

ce o

f co

mpa

nies

in e

ight

are

as im

port

ant t

o so

cial

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ion. VII. Measuring Results

The Communication Strategy’s implementation plan will detail specific activities under each objective per outcome, their deadline for completion, the designated responsible and supporting institutions, and indicators of success.

The media sub-committee will present a quarterly progress report to the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour outlining the performance of the communications plan against these specific, measurable and time bound indicators. This will enable the Committee monitor the progress of the media-subcommittee throughout the year.

A final evaluation report of the communication strategy will be conducted by an external independent consultant, with ILO support, and submitted to the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour.

Sample excerpt of the Matrix to be endorsed by the National Steering Committee

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Goal

1. Objective

1.4 Outcome

To support the National Action Plan’s efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour by 2016

To increase public awareness of the objectives and activities of the National Action Plan

The public are aware of milestones reached as part of the National Action Plan

Activities

Communication planning calendar is developed that identifies milestones and required communication support.

Produce press releases about NAP initiatives and milestones.

News about NAP milestones regularly features on the Child Labour Unit website.

Timeline

Produced 6 weeks after date of launch of NAP, updated monthly.

Ongoing and to be more specifically determined in view of planning calendar.

Ongoing and to be more specifically determined in view of planning calendar.

Responsible Institutions

Media Sub-Committee of the National Steering Committee Against Child Labour

Media Sub-Committee

Child Labour Unit, Ministry of Labour

Supporting Institutions

-

Varies based on milestones and planning calendar.

Media Sub-Committee

Indicators

Communication planning calendar produced and updated on a monthly basis

Number of press releases produced.

Number, frequency and consistency of new items on the CLU website.

VIII. Conclusion

Once implemented, the National Action Plan for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2014-2016 is expected to go a long way towards improving child protection in Lebanon. This awareness raising strategy contributes to all of its specific objectives, in particular Objective I (Lebanese legislation is compatible with international Conventions and Protocols regarding child rights and ready to be implemented) Objective V (Society accepts responsibility for, and contributes to the elimination of WFCL) and Objective VII (NGOs and local communities become aware of and are effective in eliminating WFCL).

As with the NAP, the success of the strategy depends on the levels of commitment and effective cooperation of its many stakeholders. The critical question of resource allocation remains to be settled. Some of these activities require funding whilst others require in-kind support. Both these forms may be mobilized from a wide spectrum of governmental and non-governmental sources in addition to national and international donors. The private sector can have an important role to play in this regard.

Six weeks after the launch of the NAP, the following steps are to be taken:• Formation of the media sub-committee• Recruitment of the communication consultant• Engagement with stakeholders to determine funding sources• Development of prioritised implementation plan with a detailed budget and execution timeline• Launch of the NAP branding competition

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Annex 1

Decree No. 8987The prohibition of employment of minors under the age of 18

in works that may harm their health, safety or morals

The President of the Republic Pursuant to the Constitution,

Pursuant to the Labor Law of 23/09/1946 and its amendments;Pursuant to ILO Conventions ratified by virtue of legislative decree # 70 of 25/06/1977, in particular ILO Convention No. 59 Fixing the Minimum Age for Admission of Children to Industrial Employment, ILO Convention No. 77 on the Medical Examination of Young Persons (industry) in particular Article 2 thereof, and ILO Convention No. 78 on the Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial Works) in particular, Article 3 thereof;Pursuant to ILO Convention No. 182 (elimination of the worst forms of child labor) ratified by virtue of law No. 335 of 02/08/2001 and Recommendation No. 190;Pursuant to ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum age convention) ratified by virtue of law No. 400 of 05/06/2002;Pursuant to Arab Labor Convention No. 18 concerning minor employment ratified by virtue of law No. 183 of 24/05/2000;Pursuant to Decree No. 5137 of 01/10/2010 the establishment of a National Committee to Combat Child LaborPursuant to Decree No. 700 of 25/05/1999 prohibiting the employment of minors under the age of 16 or 17 in works that may by their natureharm their health, safety or moralsPursuant to the Minister of Labor’s proposal;Following the consultation of the State Council (opinion No. 239/2008 -2009 of 26/05/2009)Following the Council of Ministers’ approval,

Decrees the following:

Article 1: Minors under the age of 18 shall not be employed in totally prohibited works and activities which, by their nature harm the health, safety or morals of children, limit their education and constitute one of the worst forms of child labor included in Annex No. (1) hereto attached.

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Article 2: Minors under the age of 16 shall not be employed in works which, by their nature or the circumstances in which they are carried out, are likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children. These works are included in Annex No. (2) hereto attached.

Article 3: Minors of more than 16 years of age may be employed in the works indicated in Annex No. (2) provided they are offered full protection for their physical, mental and moral health and provided these minors received a special education or appropriate vocational training in the field of these works, unless the type of work or the hazard is totally prohibited for those under the age of 18 as specified in Annex No. (1).

Article 4: The vocational training and technical education of minors not having completed the age of 17 in one of the plants or factories shall not be deemed an employment; it must be subject to the Minister of Labor’s approval, and the minor shall receive a medical certificate from the Ministry of Public Health.

Article 5: The annexes hereto attached shall be amended by virtue of the decisions of the Minister of Labor based on the proposal of the National Committee to Combat Child Labor.

Article 6: The Authority for Labor Inspection, Prevention and Safety with the Ministry of Labor shall be in charge of supervising the implementation of the provisions of this decree, including the provision of the Arab and International labor conventions.

Article 7: Decree No. 700 of 25/05/1999 on the prohibition of the employment of minors under 16 or 17 years of age in works which by their nature harm their health, safety or morals shall be repealed.

Article 8: This Decree enters into force as of the date of its publication in the official gazette.

Issued by the President of the Republic Baabda, on September 29, 2012Michel Suleiman

Prime MinisterMohammad Najib Mikati

Minister of LaborSalim Jraissati

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Annex No. (1)List of the worst forms of child labor

List of works and activities which are totally prohibited for minor under 18

1 Activities involving physical hazards • Activities requiring handling explosives, wearing weapons, engaging in combats or war, given of course the psychological hazards of these activities as well as their physical hazards; • Working in quarries, caves, mines, and crushing sites, whether underground or not. • Activities that may not be carried out without wearing personal protective and preventive equipment to prevent immediate an direct hazard; • Activities exposing the child to carcinogenic substances or atomic radiations or substances that may cause infertility or birth defect.

2 Activities involving psychological hazards • Any forced labor, including slavery and trafficking of children; • Domestic service; • Work that requires the child to sleep or reside in the workplace or outside the parents’ house; • Working in the streets or on the roads; • Working in the preparation of bodies for funerals and burials.

3 Activities involving moral hazards • Any work using or exploiting a child’s body for sexual or pornographic purposes or similar acts. • Betting, gambling and horse-races etc… • Any illicit work or activity or any work or activity that violates the criminal laws, such as the transportation, sale, marketing, dealing or use of all kinds of drugs.

4 Activities limiting education • Activities preventing the child from pursuing academic education or statutory vocational training or assistance lessons.

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Annex No. (2)List of the works which, by their nature or the circumstances in which they are carried out, are likely to harm the health, safety or morals of children under 16 years of age and which are allowed for children of more than 16 years of age, provided they are offered full protection for their physical, mental and moral health and provided these minors received a special education or appropriate vocational training in the field of these works, unless the type of work or the hazard is totally prohibited for those under the age of 18 as specified in Annex No. (1).

These works are distributed over two categories, the first tackles occupational hazards and the second some occupations and activities.

1 Works that expose the working child to any of the following occupational hazards:

a) Chemical hazards, including dusts and fibers • Carcinogenic substances Including for example, without being purported to be exhaustive: Amiante (Aspestos), Benzene, Chromium • Substances that cause infertility, congenital or physiological malformation, fetal and newborn growth retardation • Substances causing allergies (allergens) • Substances harming the neurological system and mental growth • Substances causing dangerous diseases in case of exposure to these substances for a long period or causing permanent health symptoms and effects

b) Physical Hazards • Noise • Atomic/ ionic radiations • Other radiations (non-atomic and non-ionic) (infra-red or electromagnetic radiations) • High atmospheric pressure (during diving for example) • Tremors • High temperatures • Low temperatures

c) Biological hazards (Viruses, bacteria, parasites, etc…) • Directly transmitted through a transmitter like mosquitoes, flies and rodents • Transmitted through exposure to biologically contaminated body fluids and others • Transmitted by touch or by handling animals, in particular dead animals.

d) Ergonomic hazards (the compatibility between humans and work equipment and machines) • Working in positions that are not adequate for the spinal cord, the joints, and muscles such as squatting, torsion, stretching or contraction for long periods; • Using machines and equipment that are unfit for the size of the hand or body in general; • Pushing or pulling weights exceeding the child’s capacity; • Lifting or transporting weights exceeding the child’s capacity or capability; • Working in places not abiding by the acceptable conditions of lighting, ventilation, humidity and temperature.

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e) Psychological, social and mental hazards and general working conditions • Works requiring night shifts (between 07:00 pm and 07:00 am); • Works requiring long working hours (more than six hours per day); • Works requiring the child to bear a given responsibility requiring significant supervision, care or guidance by an adult; • Works exposing the child to verbal or physical abuse.

f) Safety Hazards • Working at an elevation of 2 or more meters above ground • Working on roof tops, edges, windows or balconies • Working with sharp and mobile machines • Working with mobile movable machineries • Working with explosives or combustibles • Working in closed spaces with low levels of air or oxygen • Driving any machinery, bus, human transportation machine, equipment and tools regardless of the means of transportation • Working with voltages and electrical supplies • Working for more than one consecutive half hour under the sun or in high temperature conditions, provided the total working hours does not exceed 4 hours per day including not less than five rest periods of not less than 10 minutes each with fluids intake. • Working for more than one consecutive half hour in cold or storming weather, provided the total working hours does not exceed 4 hours per day including not less than five rest period of not less than 10 minutes each in a moderate weather location.

2 Works prohibited to minors

1- Agricultural activities (including family farms) which require: • Driving or operating tractors or agricultural machines; • Mixing or transporting or spraying agricultural pesticides • Touching or handling poisonous plants (such as tobacco leaves which produce a poisonous nicotine substance) • Climbing high trees or ladders • Using sharp tools such as the use of the tray to hang tobacco leaves • Working for more than 4 hours per day.

2- Fishing deep in the sea, diving, using fishing guns, explosives or electricity;

3- Working in animal slaughter houses;

4- Working with dangerous, wild or poisonous animals;

5- All kinds of works in factories that manufacture tiles, rocks and the like;

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6- All types of works in production or transformative industries employing more than 20 worker; for example: • Food and beverage industry • Textile and clothing industry • Leather tanning and manufacturing of bags • Wood products • Paper and paper products • Chemical substances • Cement, soil and building materials • Rubber and plastic products • Non-mineral mining products (glass products) • Minerals and mineral products • Various machines, equipment, vehicles and trailers • Furniture • Re-manufacturing of all types of waste

7- All types of work in the supply of electricity, gas, water and steam;

8- All types of work in building, demolition, excavation, construction, sand-blasting and heights climbing;

9- Working in commercial, industrial, services small enterprises (of less than 20 workers) with high rate of occupational hazards. Example of commercial, industrial, services small enterprises (of less than 20 workers) with high rates of occupational hazards • Mechanical works (maintenance and repair of cars and transportation machines) • Smithery • Welding • Painting • Cocking blood, bones or fat • Cleaning and tanning animal hides and skins • Pottery, glass or crystal crafts • Smelting, pouring and painting minerals • Dry cleaning • Wood sawing and furniture painting • Slaughtering of animals and sale of meat • Plumbing • Preparing and spraying fertilizers and pesticides for houses and others • Cutting papers and cartons • Printing • Production of ice and refrigeration • Extracting lead from cars batteries • Silver plating mirrors with Mercury • Filling cylinders with compressed gases

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10- Working in hotels, restaurants, amusement centers, internet cafes, which may expose the minor to the following: i. Transportation, sale or intake of alcoholic beverages; ii. Transportation or sale of cigarettes and tobacco, including Nargileh delivery; iii. Delivering any purchases to houses, unaccompanied and without any escort or supervision; iv. Being alone with the child in a room, a corner or a secluded area away from any supervision; v. Use of sharp tools and machines such as the ones in kitchens and others.

11- Working in any of land, air or marine means of transportation.

12- Working in places where there is an exchange of currencies, transfer or custody of funds, jewelries and other precious goods.

13- Working in health and medical centers that may expose the child to the following: i. The risk of being in close contact with patients, body fluids, medical waste and the risk of transmission of infections; ii. The risk of being exposed to chemical substances, drugs, gases or radiations; iii. The psychological pressure, such as dealing with cases of death or incurable diseases.

14- Working in social centers with the elderly, the disabled, persons with congenital malformations, or persons suffering psychological or mental diseases or addiction (unless for short intermittent periods and under the direct supervision of specialized social workers or persons familiar with juvenile psychology);

15- Working in centers for personal security and bodyguard

16- Working in cleaning services, waste collection and sorting, in sewers or stagnant water channels;

17- Working in all types of works requiring the protection of third parties against potential hazards, such as a lifeguard at the beach and pools.

18- Working in the horse racing track and in all activities accompanying horse-races.

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Ministry of Labor Chiyah Highway - Moucharafieh

Baabda - LebanonHot Line: 1740

Telephone: 01-556801 / 01-556803 / 01-556804Fax: 01-556808

E-mail: ministry@labor.gov.lb Website: www.labor.gov.lb