Hours of Work (Industry) Convention, 1919 (No. 1) - Lebanon (Ratification: 1977)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on working time, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 1 and 30 (hours of work), 52 (holidays with pay), 89 (night work of women) and 106 (weekly rest in commerce and offices) together.

The Committee notes the observations of the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers (CGTL) on the application of these Conventions, communicated with the Government’s report.

A. Hours of work

Articles 6 and 7 of Convention No. 1 and Articles 5, 6 and 7 of Convention No. 30. Exceptions. 1. Permanent exceptions. Following its previous comments on the application of section 32 of the Labour Code, which authorizes increases in hours of work in certain cases, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that there are several decisions, covering such exceptions as beauty salons and barbershops car repair, trade in pharmaceuticals, fuel stations, textiles, clothing and jewellery, and others. The Committee observes, however, an absence of information on the specific legislative provisions defining the maximum increase in working hours that would be allowed for those occupations, and on the corresponding rate for overtime compensation. Regarding its previous comments on Regulation No. 30 of 20 February 1956, which allows weekly working hours to be increased to 54 hours per week in commercial establishments, the Committee also notes the Government’s indication that this Regulation will be amended to be fully compliant with Convention No. 30. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the maximum number of daily additional hours of work allowed in cases of permanent exceptions, in accordance with Article 6 of Convention No. 1 and Article 7 of Convention No. 30, as well as the applicable rate of overtime compensation. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the adoption of any amendment to the Regulation No. 30 of 20 February 1956.

2. Temporary exceptions. Circumstances for and limits on additional hours of work. Following its previous comments on Decree No. 3379 of 11 July 2000, which provides that additional hours worked by public employees may not exceed 100 hours per month, and that compensation for overtime pay should not exceed 75 per cent of the monthly wage, the Committee notes that the Government indicates that this Decree has not been applied for more than four years due to the ongoing economic crisis. The Committee nevertheless recalls the importance of national legislation and practice restricting recourse to exemptions from these maximum limits to cases of clear, well-defined and limited circumstances such as accident, actual or threatened, force majeure or urgent work to be done to plant or machinery (General Survey of 2018 concerning working-time instruments, paragraph 119). In light of the above, the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that: (i) recourse to additional hours of work is limited to clear, well-defined circumstances; (ii) reasonable limits to additional working hours are established and respected; and (iii) additional working hours are effectively remunerated in conformity with the Conventions. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

B. Weekly rest

Article 6(3) and (4) of Convention No. 106. Principle of weekly rest. The Committee notes that section 36 of the Labour Code provides for the principle of a weekly rest of 36 consecutive hours but does not contain provisions specifying the day that is established as the day of rest. Accordingly, the Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures taken, in law and in practice, to ensure that: (i) the weekly rest period shall, wherever possible, coincide with the day of the week established as a day of rest by the traditions or customs of the country or district (Article 6(3)); and (ii) the traditions and customs of religious minorities shall, as far as possible, be respected (Article 6(4)).

C. Annual paid leave

Article 2 of Convention No. 52. Right to annual holidays with pay. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the need to include provisions: (i) ensuring that public and customary holidays as well as interruptions of attendance at work due to sickness and other specified reasons are not counted as part of the annual holiday (Article 2(3)(a) and (b)); and (ii) on the need of gradually increasing the duration of annual paid holiday with the length of service (Article 2(5)). The Committee also observes that section 39 of the Labour Code provides that the employer may choose when annual leave is taken and does not clearly specify that only the period going beyond the minimum duration of six days, prescribed by the Convention, can be divided into parts (Article 2(4)). The Committee notes that the Government refers to draft amendments to the Labour Code which take into account these comments. The Committee notes that, according to the CGTL, weekly rest would be counted as annual leave if falling within an annual leave period and that when a wage earner wishes to take time off during one of the traditional holidays, they are not entitled to pay. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the measures, taken or envisaged, including through its labour law reform in consultation with social partners, in order to ensure that Article 2 of the Convention is fully applied in law and in practice. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

Article 4. Prohibition to relinquish or forgo the right to annual holidays with pay. The Committee notes the observations of the CGTL, according to which the law does not prevent agreements between a wage earner and the employer waiving the worker’s annual leave, in exchange for 15 days’ wages. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

D. Night work

Articles 2 and 3 of Convention No. 89. General prohibition against women’s night work in industrial undertakings. The Committee notes that, in its report, the Government refers to proposed draft amendments to the Labour Code, providing that women are prohibited from working at night regardless of their age, in any industrial establishment, subject to a few exceptions. According to the Government, exceptions would cover family establishments, positions of responsibility that are managerial or technical in nature, situations of force majeure, and situations where work involves the use of raw materials at the processing stage, and which are rapidly perishable. Recalling that protective measures applicable to women’s employment at night which go beyond maternity protection and are based on stereotyped perceptions regarding women’s professional abilities and role in society, violate the principle of equality of opportunity and treatment between men and women, and recalling that Convention No. 89 will be open for denunciation between 27 February 2031 and 27 February 2032, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the Night Work Convention, 1990 (No. 171), which is not devised as a gender-specific instrument but focuses on the protection of all those working at night (General Survey of 2018 concerning working time instruments, paragraphs 408 and 545).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

In order to provide a comprehensive view of the issues relating to the application of ratified Conventions on working time, the Committee considers it appropriate to examine Conventions Nos 1 and 30 (hours of work) and 106 (weekly rest in commerce and offices) together.

Hours of work

Article 2 of Convention No. 1 and Articles 3 and 4 of Convention No. 30. Daily and weekly limits of hours of work. Further to its long-standing comments on the lack of a daily limit on hours of work, which the Government had previously indicated would be resolved through amendments to the Labour Code, the Committee notes the Government’s reiteration in its report that, while the Labour Code does not fix limits to daily hours of work, section 57 of a draft Labour Code fixes a daily limit of 8 hours of work and a weekly limit of 48 hours of work. The Government also indicates that the new draft Labour Code could not be passed as soon as desired, due to successive political, economic and social crises. Recalling that the Conventions establish a double cumulative limit on normal working hours of 8 hours per day and 48 hours per week (2018 General Survey concerning working-time instruments, paragraph 119), the Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures, including through the finalization of the labour law reform in consultation with social partners and in the near future, to ensure that a specific daily limit on normal hours of work is established in law and practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

Weekly rest

Article 8(1) and (3) of the Convention. Temporary exemptions and compensatory rest. Following its previous comments on the non-compliance of section 37 of the Labour Code with Article 8, which requires compensatory rest to be granted when temporary exemptions are made, regardless of any monetary compensation, the Committee notes that the Government once again refers to planned amendments of the Labour Code. According to the Government, these amendments would provide that, in emergency situations and for humanitarian and economic considerations, temporary exemptions from weekly rest shall be permitted, provided that the concerned persons are granted compensatory rest periods equal to at least the weekly rest period that they have forfeited. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures, including through the finalization of the labour law reform in consultation with social partners, to define the circumstances in which temporary exemptions from weekly rest are allowed and to provide for compensatory rest, in accordance with Article 8 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made in this regard.

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

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 6 and 7 of the Convention. List of exceptions. The Committee notes the Government’s report, which indicates that it will forward the previous comments of the Committee to the Law Review Commission, especially those concerning permanent and temporary exceptions allowed under Article 6of the Convention and Article 7 of the Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30). Furthermore, the Committee had previously noted that section 42(2)(c) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in specific processes which, due to their nature, must be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 per week on average. In this regard, it recalls that, according to Article 7 of the Convention, the Government has to provide a list of the processes which are classified as being necessarily continuous in character.The Committee once again requests the Government to provide this list. It also requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress made with regard to the amendments to the draft Labour Code, which the Government has been referring to for over 15 years.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Article 6 and 7 of the Convention. List of exceptions. The Committee notes the Government’s report, which indicates that it will forward the previous comments of the Committee to the Law Review Commission, especially those concerning permanent and temporary exceptions allowed under Article 6 of the Convention and Article 7 of the Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30). Furthermore, the Committee had previously noted that section 42(2)(c) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in specific processes which, due to their nature, must be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 per week on average. In this regard, it recalls that, according to Article 7 of the Convention, the Government has to provide a list of the processes which are classified as being necessarily continuous in character. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide this list. It also requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress made with regard to the amendments to the draft Labour Code, which the Government has been referring to for over 15 years.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Article 6 and 7 of the Convention. List of exceptions. The Committee notes the Government’s report, which indicates that it will forward the previous comments of the Committee to the Law Review Commission, especially those concerning permanent and temporary exceptions allowed under Article 6 of the Convention and Article 7 of the Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30). Furthermore, the Committee had previously noted that section 42(2)(c) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in specific processes which, due to their nature, must be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 per week on average. In this regard, it recalls that, according to Article 7 of the Convention, the Government has to provide a list of the processes which are classified as being necessarily continuous in character. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide this list. It also requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress made with regard to the amendments to the draft Labour Code, which the Government has been referring to for over 15 years.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Repetition

The Committee notes the Government’s indication in its 2008 report that, following the conclusion of the work of the Committee set up in 2000 to amend the Labour Code, the Ministry of Labour will make new amendments to the draft Labour Code, particularly in view of its comments and the comments sent by the Office. It also notes section 42(2) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code which essentially reproduces the provisions of Articles 2(c), 3 and 4 of the Convention which provide that the maximum hours of work may be exceeded in the case of shift work, accident and continuous work respectively. However, the Committee would like further information on the following points.

Article 6 of the Convention. Permanent and temporary exceptions. The Committee has stressed on many occasions the lack of detail in the provisions of the Labour Code currently in force with regard to permanent and temporary exceptions. In this regard, it notes that the Government refers to section 42(3)(b) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code which provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in exceptional cases, either permanent or temporary, in which the maximum daily hours of work cannot be applied due to the “conditions of work”, provided that the average hours of work do not exceed 48 hours per week and ten hours per day. It is obliged to note, however, that this section applies only to commercial enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide further explanations on this matter. The Committee also recalls that Article 6 of the Convention authorizes the establishment of exceptions to the maximum hours of work only in specific cases, namely: (i) in preparatory or complementary work which must necessarily be carried on outside the limits laid down for the general working of an establishment, or for certain classes of workers whose work is essentially intermittent; and (ii) so that establishments may deal with exceptional cases of pressure of work. In this regard, it refers to its comments concerning Article 7 of the Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30), as well as to paragraphs 119–140 of its General Survey of 2005 on hours of work which provide a parallel analysis of the provisions of Conventions Nos 1 and 30 concerning permanent and temporary exceptions to the principle of the eight-hour day and the 48-hour week. The Committee hopes that, when making the new amendments to the draft Labour Code, the Government will take into account all the comments concerning the permanent and temporary exceptions authorized under the above Articles of the two Conventions. It requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any developments in this regard and to provide a copy of the new legislative text as soon as it has been adopted.

Article 7 and Part III of the report form. List of exceptions. The Committee notes that section 42(2)(c) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in those processes which are required by reason of the nature of the process to be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 per week on average. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide, as required under this Article of the Convention, a list of the processes which are classed as being necessarily continuous in character.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, following the conclusion of the work of the Committee set up in 2000 to amend the Labour Code, the Ministry of Labour will make new amendments to the draft Labour Code, particularly in view of its comments and the comments sent by the Office. It also notes section 42(2) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code which essentially reproduces the provisions of Articles 2(c), 3 and 4 of the Convention which provide that the maximum hours of work may be exceeded in the case of shift work, accident and continuous work respectively. However, the Committee would like further information on the following points.

Article 6 of the Convention. Permanent and temporary exceptions. The Committee has stressed on many occasions the lack of detail in the provisions of the Labour Code currently in force with regard to permanent and temporary exceptions. In this regard, it notes that the Government refers to section 42(3)(b) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code which provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in exceptional cases, either permanent or temporary, in which the maximum daily hours of work cannot be applied due to the “conditions of work”, provided that the average hours of work do not exceed 48 hours per week and ten hours per day. It is obliged to note, however, that this section applies only to commercial enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide further explanations on this matter. The Committee also recalls that Article 6 of the Convention authorizes the establishment of exceptions to the maximum hours of work only in specific cases, namely: (i) in preparatory or complementary work which must necessarily be carried on outside the limits laid down for the general working of an establishment, or for certain classes of workers whose work is essentially intermittent; and (ii) so that establishments may deal with exceptional cases of pressure of work. In this regard, it refers to its comments concerning Article 7 of the Hours of Work (Commerce and Offices) Convention, 1930 (No. 30), as well as to paragraphs 119–140 of its General Survey of 2005 on hours of work which provide a parallel analysis of the provisions of Conventions Nos 1 and 30 concerning permanent and temporary exceptions to the principle of the eight-hour day and the 48-hour week. The Committee hopes that, when making the new amendments to the draft Labour Code, the Government will take into account all the comments concerning the permanent and temporary exceptions authorized under the above Articles of the two Conventions. It requests the Government to keep the Office informed of any developments in this regard and to provide a copy of the new legislative text as soon as it has been adopted.

Article 7 and Part III of the report form. List of exceptions. The Committee notes that section 42(2)(c) of the draft amendment to the Labour Code provides for the possibility of exceeding the maximum hours of work in those processes which are required by reason of the nature of the process to be carried on continuously by a succession of shifts, subject to the condition that the working hours shall not exceed 56 per week on average. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide, as required under this Article of the Convention, a list of the processes which are classed as being necessarily continuous in character.

Part VI of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee requests the Government to provide general information on the application of the Convention in practice, including, for example, extracts from the reports of the inspection services, statistics indicating the number of workers covered by the relevant legislation, the number of violations reported relating to hours of work, as well as any other information which would enable the Committee to better assess the manner in which the Convention is applied, in both law and practice.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

The Committee notes with interest the Government’s statement that the drafting of amendments to the Labour Code within the tripartite committee has been concluded and is being examined by the competent authorities in Lebanon to bring these provisions into law. The Committee would appreciate it if the Government would inform it of any amending texts which may have been adopted.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the Government's last report on the application of the Convention and the information supplied in response to its direct request of 1994 on the measures taken to apply Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Convention. It notes with interest the Government's statement that a draft amendment to section 31 of the Labour Code expressly sets normal hours of work at eight hours per day and 48 hours per week, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of the Convention. It also notes that the proposed amendment to section 32 of Labour Code takes into account the prescriptions of Articles 3 and 4 of the Convention for determining the exceptions that may be allowed to normal hours of work. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would inform the Office of any amending texts which may have been adopted.

Furthermore, the Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken or envisaged to give effect to the provisions of Article 6 of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes the Government's report and the information supplied in answer to its previous direct requests, particularly concerning the application of Article 8, paragraphs 1(b) and (c) and 2, of the Convention.

It observes, however, that it is unable to note any real progress with regard to the application of Articles 2, 3 and 6 of the Convention.

While noting the provisions of the legislation concerning monthly wages, which, according to the Government, imply a limit to daily hours of work, the Committee hopes that the Government will be able to establish explicitly, by law or by regulations, a maximum of eight hours of work per day, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention, so as to clarify the position in law.

The Committee also wishes to reiterate its comments on sections 32 and 33 of the Labour Code, which allow exceptions to normal working hours which may exceed the exceptions provided for in the Convention (Articles 3 and 4).

Accordingly, while noting with interest the information provided by the Government, the Committee trusts that appropriate measures will be taken, after consultation with the employers' and workers' organizations concerned, to determine the specific cases in which such exceptions apply, and the limit of additional hours of work authorized in each case, in accordance with Article 6 of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1993, published 80th ILC session (1993)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that the Government will soon be in a position to supply a report for examination by the Committee and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2 of the Convention. Section 31 of the Labour Code lays down a weekly limit to hours of work without laying down the daily limit provided for by Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to state whether other legal provisions of general character lay down such a limit.

Articles 3 and 6. Sections 32 and 33 of the Labour Code authorize exceptions to hours of work that may go further than the exceptions provided for by the Convention. Moreover, section 32 does not specify the number of additional hours which may be authorized. The Committee requests the Government to state whether there are any other legal provisions which lay down the specific cases in which these exceptions are applicable to workers in industry and the maximum number of hours of work authorized in each case and to specify whether the regulations mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention are adopted after consultation with the organizations of employers and workers concerned.

Article 8. The Government is also requested to indicate the legal provisions which give effect to the following provisions of Article 8 of the Convention:

- paragraph 1(b) (rest intervals notified to the staff);

- paragraph 1(c) (recording of additional hours worked);

- paragraph 2 (illegality of employment outside the hours fixed).

The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the above-mentioned legal provisions if they exist and, if not, to consider the possibility, as soon as circumstances permit, of issuing suitable legislative texts to give full effect to the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 2 of the Convention. Section 31 of the Labour Code lays down a weekly limit to hours of work without laying down the daily limit provided for by Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to state whether other legal provisions of general character lay down such a limit.

Articles 3 and 6. Sections 32 and 33 of the Labour Code authorise exceptions to hours of work that may go further than the exceptions provided for by the Convention. Moreover, section 32 does not specify the number of additional hours which may be authorised. The Committee requests the Government to state whether there are any other legal provisions which lay down the specific cases in which these exceptions are applicable to workers in industry and the maximum number of hours of work authorised in each case and to specify whether the regulations mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention are adopted after consultation with the organisations of employers and workers concerned.

Article 8. The Government is also requested to indicate the legal provisions which give effect to the following provisions of Article 8 of the Convention:

- paragraph 1(b) (rest intervals notified to the staff);

- paragraph 1(c) (recording of additional hours worked);

- paragraph 2 (illegality of employment outside the hours fixed).

The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the above-mentioned legal provisions if they exist and, if not, to consider the possibility, as soon as circumstances permit, of issuing suitable legislative texts to give full effect to the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the following matters raised in its previous direct request:

Article 2 of the Convention. Section 31 of the Labour Code lays down a weekly limit to hours of work without laying down the daily limit provided for by Article 2 of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to state whether other legal provisions of general character lay down such a limit.

Articles 3 and 6. Sections 32 and 33 of the Labour Code authorise exceptions to hours of work that may go further than the exceptions provided for by the Convention. Moreover, section 32 does not specify the number of additional hours which may be authorised. The Committee requests the Government to state whether there are any other legal provisions which lay down the specific cases in which these exceptions are applicable to workers in industry and the maximum number of hours of work authorised in each case and to specify whether the regulations mentioned in Article 6 of the Convention are adopted after consultation with the organisations of employers and workers concerned.

Article 8. The Government is also requested to indicate the legal provisions which give effect to the following provisions of Article 8 of the Convention:

- paragraph 1(b) (rest intervals notified to the staff);

- paragraph 1(c) (recording of additional hours worked);

- paragraph 2 (illegality of employment outside the hours fixed).

The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the above-mentioned legal provisions if they exist and, if not, to consider the possibility, as soon as circumstances permit, of issuing suitable legislative texts to give full effect to the Convention.