WHO WE ARE

Employment is one of the most intractable problems Palestinian refugees have to face in Lebanon. Legal restrictions imposed on Palestinian refugee employment is at the root of much of their hardship, and constitute the key obstacle that prevents them from participating normally in the Lebanese labour market, which in turn leads to aggravating economic and social conditions.

A workshop organised jointly by UNRWA and the Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in May 2006 titled “Beginning of a Dialogue: Employability of Palestinians in Lebanon” was the starting point that brought CEP into being as a multi-member committee united for a common cause - To carry forward the workshop’s recommendations that covered various topics related to Palestinian refugee employment in Lebanon, stated as follows:

1- Conducting a study on current laws, regulations and procedures.
2- Proposing improvements to these laws, regulations and procedures.
3- Mapping of the Palestinian Labour Force.
4- Conducting need surveys for the Lebanese Labour Market
5- Exploring means to increase job availability.
6- Ensuring high quality education is made available for Palestinian refugees
in addition to training and developing need-responsive skills.
7- Modifying negative perceptions between Palestinians and Lebanese communities and creating more bridges between the two.

This workshop was funded by the Swiss Agency for Cooperation and Development (SDC).

As it starts its fourth year, the CEP has noted an environmental shift in the way Palestinian refugee employment is perceived and the higher priority it is being accorded by major actors such as Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC), UNRWA and the integrated UN Working Group on Palestinian Issues (IUNWGPI), which has facilitated a decision by the Committee members to widen the scope of its activities from a focus mainly on research and awareness raising activities, to a more active role in advocacy (the ‘Follow-up’ was henceforth omitted from the Committee’s name).

CEP MEMBERS

Mr. Samir El-Khoury (CEP Chair)
Ambassador (rtd)
Representing Lebanese Civil Society

Ms. Wafa El-Yassir (Vice Chair)
Country Director
Norwegian People's Aid
Representing Palestinian Civil Society

Ambassador Abdel Majid Kassir (member)
President
Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee (LPDC)
Representing the LPDC

Ms. Samira Salah (member)
Director of Palestinian Refugee Affairs
Representing Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO)

Ms. Emily David (member)
Senior Protection Officer
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
Representing UNRWA

Ms. Mary Kawar (member)
Skills and Employability Specialist
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Representing the ILO

Mr. Rabie Narsh (member)
Head of the Palestine Desk
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Lebanese
Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Overseas Lebanese

Ms. Iman Khazaal (member)
Head of Mount-Lebanon office
Ministry of Labour
Representing the Ministry of Labour

Mr. Fouad Bawarshi (member)
Vice President – General Director
Gezairi Transport (Overseas) S.A.L
Representing the Business Community

CEP SECRETARIAT