Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) - Syrian Arab Republic (Ratification: 2001)

Noting that the Government’s latest report was submitted in 2015, the Committee welcomes the efforts made by the Government to fulfil its reporting obligations in 2025 despite the complexity of the situation on the ground and the continued hostilities in certain parts of the country.

Articles 1 and 2(3) of the Convention. National policy, compulsory education and application of the Convention in practice. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that more than 2.5 million children have been affected by the crisis, with an estimated 1.5 million expected to be returnees, migrants or refugees. In order to reduce school drop-outs, the Government indicates that a number of legislative measures were taken, including: (1) Labour Law No. 17, 2010, which sets the minimum age of employment at 15 years, conditional upon completion of basic education, and prohibits children from working more than six hours per day; (2) Law No. 7 of 2012 on compulsory enrolment in basic education, which imposes a legal obligation on parents or guardians to enrol all children aged 6 to 15 in basic education and provides for fines or up to three months’ imprisonment for non-compliance; (3) Law No. 18 of 2021 on vocational secondary education, which organizes vocational education and establishes training centres and production workshops to align skills with labour market needs, supports productive education and contributes to reducing unemployment; and (4) Child Rights Law No. 21 of 2021, which provides for the establishment of a National Committee for Child Rights, chaired by the Minister of Social Affairs and Labour, mandated to propose public policies and national plans on child rights, examine proposals and complaints, prepare draft legislation, issue reports and submit recommendations to the competent authorities. The Law also guarantees free and compulsory basic education and prohibits child labour, including employment under 15 years of age, economic exploitation, hazardous work, overtime, work beyond scheduled hours, night work and work on holidays.

The Government further indicates that, according to the Ministry of Education’s statistical bulletin for 2023–24, the drop-out rate in basic education stands at 3.94 per cent, which it considers is an outcome of the implementation of the compulsory-education legislation and the enforcement of school-retention measures. These measures include: a national “Back-to-Learning” campaign, supported by the provision of child allowances – either in cash or in kind – for families who re-enrol children who had dropped out of school, pursuant to Legislative Decree No. 9 of 2011 establishing the National Social Aid Fund; the implementation of the intensive education programme; school nutrition initiatives providing supported light meals and ready-made meals to encourage attendance; remedial and reinforcement classes, school clubs and vocational training for teachers; the introduction of the empowerment curriculum in cooperation with UNICEF; the activation of online education platforms; and measures to facilitate the return and registration of students, including children lacking identity documentation, in all schools during the crisis in 2019.

Moreover, the Government refers to several studies undertaken to analyse the underlying causes of child labour and potential responses, including: (1) the 2019 field study conducted in collaboration with UNICEF on the worst forms of child labour, according to which the deteriorating economic situation, increased cost of living, and insufficient household income have intensified reliance on children’s work; and (2) the study entitled “Reality and Remedies: Deir ez-Zor Governorate as a model”, conducted in cooperation with the ILO in 2020. The studies revealed that the crisis in the country remains the primary driver of the rise and spread of child labour. According to the Government, policy proposals were generated to inform targeted intervention programmes, ultimately translating into concrete actions to protect children and improve their family and community environments. Their findings and recommendations were submitted to the relevant authorities.

While noting the measures taken by the Government, the Committee expresses its deep concern at the significant number of children who are involved in child labour. The Committee therefore urges the Government to intensify its efforts to address the situation of children engaged in child labour, and to ensure the progressive elimination of child labour. It requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in this regard, as well as the results achieved.

The Committee reminds the Government that it may avail itself of the technical assistance of the Office in this regard.