Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Lebanon (Ratification: 2003)

Article 2(1) of the Convention. Scope of application. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that the Labour Code only applies to work performed under an employment relationship (by virtue of sections 1, 3 and 8 of the Code). The Committee recalled that the Convention applies to all branches of economic activity and covers all types of employment or work, whether they are carried out on the basis of an employment relationship or not, and whether they are remunerated or not. The Committee also noted that under Chapter 2, section 15, of the draft amendments to the Labour Code, it seemed that the employment or work of young persons would also include non-traditional forms of employment relationship. The Committee therefore requested that the Government provide information on the progress made in relation to the adoption of the provisions of the draft amendments to the Labour Code.

The Committee notes an absence of information in the Government’s report on this point. Considering that the Government has been referring to the draft amendments to the Labour Code for a number of years, the Committee once again expresses the firm hope that the Government will take the necessary steps to ensure that the amendments to the Labour Code relating to self-employed children and children in the informal economy are adopted in the very near future. The Committee requests that the Government provide a copy of the new provisions, once adopted.

Article 2(2). Raising the minimum age for admission to employment or work. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that, at the time of ratifying the Convention, Lebanon declared 14 years as the minimum age for admission to employment or work and that Act No. 536 of 24 July 1996, amending sections 21, 22 and 23 of the Labour Code, prohibits the employment of young persons before the age of 14. The Committee also noted the Government’s intention to raise the minimum age for admission to employment or work to 15 years of age and that the draft amendments to the Labour Code would include a provision in this regard (section 19). The Committee requested that the Government provide information on the progress made in the adoption of the provisions of the draft amendments to the Labour Code on the minimum age for employment or work.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report that the Committee’s comments have been taken into account in the draft amendments to the Labour Code. The draft has also been submitted to the Council of Ministers for its examination. The Committee once again requests that the Government provide information on any progress made in the adoption of the provisions of the draft amendments to the Labour Code regarding the minimum age for employment or work.

Article 2(3). Compulsory education. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that the age limit for compulsory education is 12 years of age (Act No. 686/1998 relating to free and compulsory education at the primary school level). The Committee also noted the Government’s indication that a draft law aimed at raising the minimum age of compulsory education to 15 years had been sent to the Council of Ministers for examination. The Committee requested that the Government indicate the progress made in this regard.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Labour took into account the Committee’s comments which were inserted in the draft amendments to the Labour Code. Moreover, the Committee notes that in its 2016 concluding observations, the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is concerned at the number of children, especially refugee children, who are not in school or have quit school owing to the insufficient capacity of the educational infrastructure, the lack of documentation, and the pressure to work to support their families, among other reasons (E/C.12/LBN/CO/2, paragraph 62).

In this regard, the Committee recalls the necessity of linking the age of admission to employment to the age limit for compulsory education. If the two ages do not coincide, various problems may arise. If the minimum age for admission to work or employment is lower than the school leaving age, children may be encouraged to leave school as children required to attend school may also be legally authorized to work (see General Survey on the fundamental Conventions, 2012, paragraph 370). Noting the Government’s intention to raise the age of completion of compulsory schooling to 15 years, the Committee once again reminds the Government that pursuant to Article 2(3) of the Convention, the minimum age for admission to employment (currently 14 years) should not be lower than the age of completion of compulsory schooling. Therefore, the Committee urges once again the Government to intensify its efforts to raise the minimum age for admission to employment or work to 15 years, and to provide for compulsory education up until that age, within the framework of the adoption of the draft amendments to the Labour Code. The Committee requests that the Government provide a copy of the new provisions, once adopted.

Article 6. Vocational training and apprenticeship. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that the Government had stated that the draft amendments to the Labour Code (section 16) had set the minimum age for vocational training under a contract at 14 years. The Committee expressed the firm hope that such a provision under the draft amendments would be adopted in the near future.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that section 16 will be adopted along with the draft amendments to the Labour Code. The Government also indicates that the National Centre for Vocational Training is in charge of carrying out vocational training and apprenticeships. The Committee once again expresses the firm hope that section 16 of the draft amendments to the Labour Code, setting a minimum age of 14 years for entry into an apprenticeship, in conformity with Article 6 of the Convention, will be adopted in the very near future.

Article 7. Light work. In its earlier comments, the Committee noted that under section 19 of the draft amendments to the Labour Code, employment or work of young persons in light work may be authorized when they complete 13 years of age under certain conditions (except in different types of industrial work in which the employment or work of young persons under the age of 15 years is not authorized). The Committee also noted that light work activities would be determined by virtue of an Order from the Ministry of Labour. The Committee requested that the Government provide information on any progress made in this regard.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has asked for light work to be included in the ongoing ILO–IPEC Project “Country level engagement and assistance to reduce child labour in Lebanon” (CLEAR Project) and that a few meetings have been held in this regard. The Government indicates that, once the CLEAR Project is launched, it will be able to prepare a statute on light work in accordance with the relevant international standards. The Committee once again requests that the Government take the necessary measures to ensure the formulation and adoption of a statute determining light work activities, including the number of hours during which, and the conditions in which, light work may be undertaken. It requests that the Government provide information on the progress achieved.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.