EXCERPT FROM PUBLICATION:

“Exact numbers of children working in the worst forms of labour do not exist in Lebanon. However, a number of studies have been conducted which show that the problem is increasing due to several factors, including the lack of appropriate response mechanisms in the country, and especially the lack of adequate prevention programmes. In addition, poverty contributes to the seriousness of the child labour problem in general. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) National Development Report for Lebanon (2008–2009), poverty is a serious problem in Lebanon, with almost 300,000 individuals unable to meet their food and non-food basic needs. The number of people living below the poverty line has increased in the past decade. According to the Lebanon Millennium Development Goal Report 2008, 28.5 per cent of the population is living below the upper poverty line (with an estimated income below $4 per capita per day), and 8 per cent of them are extremely poor and live below the lower poverty line (with an estimated income below $2.4 per capita per day), and cannot meet their basic needs. A large number of children are found to work in sectors and occupations such as auto repair (eg. mechanical work, car painting etc.), construction, metal working including aluminium and forged iron, and sanitary installations. In general, child workers are mainly employed in industrial sites and places that lack adequate infrastructure and they work with obsolete technology and unsafe machinery and tools. Most of these enterprises use in ammable, explosive, harmful or hazardous materials and substances. Within these environments there is a low level of awareness of the health and safety considerations that should govern basic working conditions.”