May 13, 2012
LFO Mural - UNRWA
Within the scope of the EU-funded project “Dignity for All” – launched in 2010, and as stated in the Mural’s concept description “on 25 March 2012, following a walk in Bourj el Barajneh camp in Beirut, Lebanese students from the American Community School of Beirut and Palestinian students from UNRWA-Galilee School gathered together at the Lebanon Field Office in Bir Hassan, to share their observations about the living conditions in the camp. Their thoughts and insights were collected by the Public Information Office and visually translated into an illustration by a professional illustrator, Fouad Mezher…As of Saturday 28 April 2012, a group of volunteer illustrators started transferring the illustration onto the LFO mural. Given the size of the T-wall (100 x 4 meters), the transfer period will last almost two weeks.
On Sunday 13 May, ACS and Galilee participating students will be joining the illustrators to finalize the drawing.”
View the illustration (in .pdf)
Read UNRWA’s Mural Concept Description (in .pdf)

May 3, 2012
Screening of the “Someone like me…” documentary
The documentary is part of the "Dignity for All" project, a campaign launched by UNRWA in 2010 with the financial support of the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), which aims at improving the mutual perceptions of the Lebanese and Palestine Refugees Communities. The screening will be held on May 3rd, 2012 at 19:30 at the French Cultural Institute in Beirut.
View the flyer (in .gif)

May 2, 2012
NDU Job Fair
The office of Public Relations at Notre Dame University extended an open invitation to participate in its Annual Job Fair that will be held, under the patronage of the Minister of Social Affairs Mr. Wael Abu Faour, on Wednesday May 2, 2012, from 9:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. at NDU Main Campus– Zouk Mosbeh – Exhibition Hall.

April 27, 2012
Release of UNRWA Community Newsletter (Issue 16)
Read the Arabic version (in .pdf)
Read the English version (in .pdf)

March 24, 2012
UNRWA unveils "Ten Youth Commitments"
As noted on UNRWA’s portal, the Agency’s Commissioner-General, Mr. Filippo Grandi, announced “ten concrete commitments through which UNRWA will strengthen its support to, and better engage Palestine refugee youth, with a sharper youth focus in the ongoing Agency reforms of its education and health programmes… These commitments also included enhanced vocational training and micro-finance opportunities, fundraising for scholarships, expanding its successful skills programme for young refugees first piloted in Syria, advocacy on rights of special concern to youth…”
Mr. Grandi stressed the importance of listening to refugee youth and responding to their concerns “Work begins tomorrow, the first day of spring. Indeed, this will be UNRWA's year of refugee youth and it will go from spring to spring."
Read Mr. Grandi’s Introductory Note at the Conference

March 16, 2012
ILO launches a video contest on Decent Work for Youth
The ILO has launched a video contest for young people (from 18-29 years) on how the global jobs crisis is affecting them and their communities. Three winners will be offered an all expenses paid trip to Geneva, Switzerland to present their videos at the ‘Youth Employment Forum' which takes place at the International Labour Organization (ILO) on 23-25 May 2012.The Youth Employment Forum will gather more than one hundred young people who are engaged in promoting decent work for youth. The Forum will provide a platform for young people to share their experiences and views on the current employment situation, as well as to discuss successful initiatives that create more and better jobs for youth.
Videos must be submitted no later than 10 April 2012 at 23.59 GMT. For details on how to participate in the video contest, please consult http://www.ilo.org/employment/areas/youth-employment/WCMS_175238/lang--en/index.htm
Or contact the Youth Employment Programme of the ILO at: youth@ilo.org

March 13, 2012
UNRWA, LFO launches a socio-economic survey in Nahr el-Bared Camp (NBC)
UNRWA Lebanon Field Office launched on March 13, 2012 a socio-economic survey in NBC (Package 1) and the adjacent areas, Beddawi… The survey will cover 550 families (about 10% of the NBC displaced population) chosen randomly…
It is expected that the survey will, amongst other, “provide a better understanding of the social and economic situation for the displaced persons from NBC... and enable UNRWA to evaluate the services provided by the Employment Center in NBC in order to better meet the needs.”

March 8, 2012
Ambassador Khoury replies on the work permit of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
The CEP Chair, Ambassador Samir El Khoury, responded to the unjustified positions vis-à-vis the decision signed by former Minister Charbel Nahas "putting in place a mechanism for granting work permits to Palestinian wage-earners officially registered in the rosters of the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities… expressing fears of "Palestinian settlement and militia-like practices."
Read iloubnan.info article (English .pdf)
Read the Daily Star article (English .pdf)

March 5, 2012
Chairman of the Committee for Employmnent of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon: "Regulation Mechanism for Granting Work Permits to Registered Palestinian Refugees Does Not Transcend the Law"
Read the NNA News (Arabic)
Read the NNA News (English - Google Translate)
Read Assafir Article (Arabic)
Read Full Text of Response (Arabic)

February 22, 2012
Issuance of the Decision Regulating the Granting of Work Permits to Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
The National News Agency posted on its portal yesterday at 17:00 the Text of the Decision issued by former Minister of Labour, Dr. Charbel Nahhas regulating the implementation of granting a work permit to the Palestinian refugees officially registered with the Directorate of Political & Refugee Affairs (DPRA) in Lebanon.
Read the NNA news (Arabic .pdf)

February 15, 2012
Interior Ministry Sets Up Palestinian Database
Read The Daily Star article (English .pdf)

February 14, 2012
Country Report No. 12/39 (Lebanon) released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Country Report No. 12/39 (Lebanon) released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) - including a section on Lebanese Labour Market and Skill Mismatches; and a number of recommendations Re. reforms - Annexes II & III.
Read the Report (English .pdf)
Read Al Akhbar Article (Arabic .pdf)

February 4, 2012
"The Labour Market in Lebanon", Issue 1 of Statistics in Focus (SIF)
Released within the context of the EU Twining Project between the Central Administration of Statistics (CAS) and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), this first issue of SIF "looks briefly at the labour market key indicators and figures available from a number of surveys conducted by CAS in Lebanon in recent years".
Read the issue (English .pdf)

February 2, 2012
Business outlook uncertain in 2012
Read the Daily Star article (English .pdf)

February 1, 2012
Full Text of Decree No. 7426 dated January 27, 2012
The decree setting the 'Official Minimum Wage for Labourers and Employees who are Subject to the Lebanese Labour Law, the percentage for the High Cost of Living and the modalities of its application' was published in the Official Gazette (Issue 4, pp.1-2) and brought into effect on February 1, 2012.
Read the decree (Arabic .pdf)

January 27, 2012
Release of the "Global Employment Trends 2012: Preventing a deeper jobs crisis"
The Employment Trends unit of the ILO Employment Sector released on January 24 the annual Global Employment Trends report which "offers the latest global and regional information and projections on several indicators of the labour market, including employment, unemployment, working poverty and vulnerable employment. It also presents a number of policy considerations in light of the new challenges facing policy makers in the coming year".
Download the Report (English .pdf)

January 27, 2012
Release of the 4th Arabic Report for Cultural Development
Issued by the Arab Thought Foundation on a yearly basis, the Arabic Report for Cultural Development is "interested with the description and the analysis of the most important aspects of cultural development in the Arab countries, through their basic structures, such as education, media, copyright, information creativity of all kinds and different types, such as poetry, narration, cinema, TV drama, theater, music and singing, as well as the intellectual and cultural harvesting which provide the major features of the cultural movement during a year and its basic details…"
The soft copy will be shortly available at the Arab Thought Foundation portal: http://www.arabthought.org
Read Dar al Hayat article (Arabic .pdf)

January 26, 2012
Release of Issue 9 of the ILO-ROAS Gender Equality Newsletter
The Gender Equality Programme at the ILO Regional Office for the Arab States released earlier this month the ninth issue of its newsletter “… providing highlights of select activities and products from October to December 2011. In this newsletter, we share highlights of two projects: The Palestinian Women’s Economic Empowerment Project in Lebanon and the progress of work with the Pay Equity Initiative in Jordan …”
Read the Newsletter (English .pdf)

January 20, 2012
The Arab Planning Institute: “A Structural Imbalance between the Education Systems and the Labor Market” Read An-Nahar Article (Arabic .pdf)

January 19, 2011
Inauguration of UNRWA’s Employment Services Center in Tyre
With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNRWA in partnership with the ILO inaugurated on Wednesday January 18, 2012 a new Employment Services Center (ESC) in Tyre (Al-Aathar Area, behind Oriental Sweets, Al-Bitar Bldg., 1st Floor).
Read the flyer (Bilingual .pdf)
Read As-Safir news (Arabic .pdf)

January 18, 2012 - UNRWA
Film follows Lebanese youth visiting refugee camp
View the documentary online at http://www.unrwa.org/etemplate.php?id=1214

December 23, 2011
Premiere of “Someone like me…” documentary
The documentary is part of the "Dignity for All" project, a campaign launched by UNRWA in 2010 with the financial support of the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO), which aims at improving the mutual perceptions of the Lebanese and Palestine Refugees Communities.The screening will be held on January 10, 2012 at 18:00 at Masrah al-Madina, Hamra.
Read Al-mustaqbal news (Arabic .pdf)

December 21, 2011
Leaders must invest in the youth: LAU President
The President of the Lebanese American University in Beirut, Mr. Joseph Jabra, called on politicians in Lebanon to “pay attention to the youth. Try and invest in them. Try to bring companies here to establish businesses, and provide our youth with jobs…”
Read The Daily Star interview with President Jabra (English .pdf)

December 20, 2011
Labor Ministry to receive complaints via telephone
A statement issued by the labor minister’s press office said that the ministry will start receiving complaints from both Lebanese and foreign workers on the telephone number 01-540-114.
Read The Daily Star article (English .pdf)

December 19, 2011
Q&As with the Director-General of the Arab Labour Organization (ALO), H.E. Mr. Ahmad Lokman
Read the Interview (Arabic .pdf)

December 8, 2011
AUBMC hosts completion of this year's training of Palestinian health care professionals
The program had started in 2006 as a signed agreement between then AUB’s former President John Waterbury and Dr. Joseph Tamari, president of the Medical Welfare Trust Fund (MWTF), which was established by the late Hassib Sabagh in 1989 to provide health care support to Palestinians. Upon signing of the agreement, a committee was formed consisting of Dr. Ghazi Zaatari as chairman, Dr. George Araj as coordinator, and Professor Rima Afifi as member of the committee…This year, two groups of health care professionals from the West Bank trained at the AUBMC facilities: Ten laboratory scientists and managers, along with 14 nurses from both governmental and non-governmental health care institutions… The main focus for the trainees was to transfer to their staff back home knowledge acquired on different clinical hospital nursing services (e.g. emergency and other critical care units, surgical care, pediatric oncology, and operating room nursing care); tools of laboratory management; and service and quality improvement…"
Read the AUB news (English .pdf)

December 6, 2011
Inauguration of UNRWA’s Employment Services Center in a new location in Saida
With the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), UNRWA in partnership with the ILO inaugurated on Friday December 2, 2011 a new Employment Services Center (ESC) in Saida (Al-Siti Nafisa neighbourhood, behind Ogero, Abu Zeid Bldg., Ground Floor). Attendees included the representatives of the Palestinian & Swiss embassies in Lebanon, the SDC, the Ministry of Labour, the Popular Committees, the CEP, ILO, and the host UNRWA.
Read the flyer (Bilingual .pdf)

December 5, 2011
UNRWA’s Community Newsletter, November 2011 Issue
Read the flyer (Arabic .pdf)
Read the flyer (English .pdf)

November 29-30, 2011
ESCWA Celebrates the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
View the Cultural Activities’ 2-day Program (English .pdf)

November 25, 2011
The Palestinian Business Forum discusses the Socio-Economic Situation of the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
Read the article posted on Janoubiyyat portal (Arabic .pdf)

November 21-22, 2011
2-day Conference titled "Palestinian Refugees: Different Generations but One Identity" organized by the 'Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies' at Birzeit University-scheduled to be held on November 21 & 22, 2011 in Birzeit.
“…The working hypothesis to be tested by the conference is that Palestinian refugees, six decades after the Nakba, continue to share characteristics across geographical borders and socio-economic categories, in complex intellectual, social and psychological ways. They are also by and large subjected to particular conditions with regard to such matters as health, education and labor. These characteristics distinguish them from Palestinian non-refugees…”
Click for Concept Note & Agenda with links to Speeches’ Abstracts

October 31, 2011
A Consultative Meeting on the Palestinian Investment Fund in Lebanon
Read the article posted on Laji-Net (Arabic .pdf)

October 26, 2011
'Doha Forum on Decent Work and Poverty Reduction' hosted by Doha International Institute for Family and Development (DIFSD)
Read the ILO Opening Address (English .pdf)
Read the Qatar Tribune article (English .pdf)
Read the Gulf Times article (English .pdf)

October 25, 2011 – As-Safir
Re-opening of the Official Lebanese Technical & Vocational Training Center (in Dekwaneh), after its closure for the past six years
Read As-Safir article (Arabic .pdf)

October 20, 2011
Release of the "Global Employment Trends for Youth: 2011 Update"
Clid to watch the interview with the author of the report, Sara Elder, ILO Economist at the Employment Trends Unit
Read the ILO Report

October 17, 2011
Ambassador Abdullah discusses with the Lebanese Prime Minister the Status of the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
Read WAFA article (Arabic in .pdf)

October 17, 2011
Main Findings of the 7th edition of the ILO’s “Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM)”
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has issued the 7th edition of its flagship “Key Indicators of the Labour Market (KILM)”, covering 18 indicators on employment and decent work with the latest available data for more than 200 countries, areas or territories worldwide. Read the ILO Press Release:
Read Findings (Arabic in .pdf)
Read Findings (English in .pdf)

October 14, 2011
Dissemination of the preliminary findings of the study tilted “The Potential of the Palestinian Youth and Young Adults in Lebanon” – CEP/Al-Mustaqbal/As-Safir
Under the patronage of H.E. Minister of Social Affairs, Mr. Wael Abu Faour, and the Palestinian Ambassador to Lebanon H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, the Right to Work Campaign (Najdeh Association) organized a roundtable discussion on Thursday October 13, 2011 at 10:00 A.M. at the Riviera Hotel, Manara. Researcher Leila Zakharia presented the preliminary findings of the study titled “The Potential of the Palestinian Youth and Young Adults in Lebanon” (funded by the European Union, Diakonia and the Christian Aid) to an audience of concerned stakeholders.
“The study’s findings construct the profile of 522 Palestinian refugee youth and young adults aged 18-29 years, with at least an intermediate education, from 9 refugee camps and several gatherings. It examines the extent to which youth educational and employment characteristics are likely to differ from the overall population, gauges their skills and contribution to family and community, and explores their motivation and attitudes in coping with challenges and obstacles…”
The main preliminary quantitative findings with regard to education and employment intersect with the findings of the 2010 CEP-NPA Analysis Consultancy commissioned to the Consultation and Research Institute (CRI) within the two-phased VET project (Available at http://www.cep-lb.org/cep_data.html) The survey’s findings depicted positive indicators Re. progress in educational attainment: “Most Palestinian youth in this study pursued a range of extracurricular activities that contribute to enhancing their social and personal skills…”
As for the August 17 amendment to the Lebanese Labour Law, the survey’s indicators showed that “it was judged as ineffective by 41% of the respondents, but viewed as positive for youth education/employment by 21%. It was considered ‘possibly positive’ by 37%, who felt that it might benefit Palestinians… Relations with Lebanese youth were felt to be unduly affected by official Lebanese policies…” Najdeh Association noted that the Final Version of the Study will be released in 3 weeks.
Read Almustaqbal article (Arabic .pdf)
Read As-Safir article (Arabic .pdf)

October 12, 2011
Launching of the “Palestinian Investment Fund” at the Palestinian Embassy in Lebanon
Read Janoubiyyat article (Arabic .pdf)

October 11, 2011
Minister Diab Unveils Large-Scale Education Plan – Al-Markazia
In a News Conference held at the Ministry of Education & Higher Education on Monday October 10, 2011, H.E. Mr. Hasan Diab pointed out that “the interest of the Lebanese is for us to work on a modern plan that meets their aspirations for a better society with an advanced and successful education system…”, and explained that the large-scale Educational Plan includes changes to primary and secondary education, vocational and technical education, higher education, administrative development and the Center for Educational Research and Development. H.E. also stressed the need to advance vocational and technical training in Lebanon, which according to him, is needed and highly valued by the market in Lebanon. “It is of primary importance to the ministry to modernize this sector and make it widely available.”
For more details, read Al-Markazia article (Arabic .pdf)

October 4, 2011
New Agreement between NRC and UNRWA
As noted on the portal of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), “the main objective of this collaboration is to support the implementation of UNRWA educational reform launched in September 2011, and to help build additional educational quality in UNRWA system. This includes the five fields of The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, (UNRWA)’s intervention: Lebanon, Gaza, Jordan, West Bank and Syria…During the school year 2011-2012, both NRC Lebanon and NRC OPT will expand their respective education projects…The ‘communicating schools’ project in Lebanon will be implemented in 13 schools in North, South and Central Lebanon. The ‘our communities, our schools’ project in Gaza will involve 6 schools. NRC in Gaza is also working with UNRWA to track out-of-school children and will begin to pilot work with children suffering from the effects of trauma in the conflict-affected restricted area.
For more details, read the NRC news (English .pdf)

September 28, 2011
"Labour Force Survey of Palestinians Living in Refugee Camps and Selected Gatherings in Lebanon"
Launching of the Field Work for the "Labour Force Survey of Palestinians Living in Refugee Camps and Selected Gatherings in Lebanon" within the ILO-CEP project "Improving access to employment and social protection for Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon" - funded by the European Union
Read about the event

September 22, 2011
Launching of the Field Work for the National Household Budget Survey for 2011
As noted on its portal on September 21, 2011, "The Central Administration of Statistics launched on Tuesday 20 September 2011 at 12:00am, the field work for the National Household Budget Survey for 2011 conducted in cooperation with the World Bank. This Survey will provide a rich statistical database on the characteristics of demographic and social development of households and individuals, the characteristics of the economic activity of individuals, characteristics of housing and housing conditions, poverty line, details of income and household spending and update of the weights used in the compilation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI)."
Read CAS’ News

September 20, 2011
EU-UNRWA Press Release pertaining to the EU continuing support to UNRWA
EU-UNRWA Press Release pertaining to the EU continuing "support to UNRWA in its endeavours to alleviate the dire living conditions of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon through a new programme for a total budget of 12 million Euros. This programme, which will be implemented by UNRWA, aims at providing adequate shelter to the most vulnerable Palestine refugee families living in Lebanon, by securing funds for the rehabilitation of shelters in Palestinian camps throughout Lebanon and by paying cash rental subsidies in 2011 and 2012 to the families waiting to return to their reconstructed houses in Nahr el-Bared Camp (NBC).
The programme will benefit over 3,000 families displaced from NBC in addition to an estimated 736 families residing in the other 11 Palestine refugee camps in Lebanon. A socio-economic survey conducted last year confirmed that dire housing conditions affect the majority of Palestine refugees in Lebanon and contribute to the prevalence of chronic illnesses among the refugees. Over 4,000 shelters across Lebanon are in need of rehabilitation. The same study found that 66% of the refugees live in poverty.
The proposed action will be financed by the Instrument for Stability (IfS), which is the EU mechanism to respond to crises, facilitate recovery processes and prevent further relapses..."
Read the Press Release (Arabic .pdf)
Read the Press Release (English .pdf)

September 18, 2011
UNRWA Chief on Palestinian Statehood and Beyond
Read the Interview (English .pdf)

September 10, 2011
The Politics of Reciprocity by Juan Zober de Francisco
Read Now Lebanon article (English .pdf)

September 8, 2011
Expert Group Meeting on Social Protection as Development
The Palestinian Minister of Social Affairs, Ms. Magida El Masri pointed out that "through this workshop the Palestinian Authority was seeking to take advantage of the expertise of ESCWA and neighboring countries in social protection… the meeting topic is an urgent national priority for Palestinian people, as social protection is a leverage for social cohesion and steadfastness of Palestinians in the face of occupation policies. She added that her ministry reformulated, in cooperation with local and international partners, its programs and interventions in the fields of protection, care and prevention, empowerment of vulnerable groups of poor people, the disabled, the elderly, children, women and others…”
Read ESCWA’s News http://www.escwa.un.org/main/scroll/printwhatsnew.asp?id=630&referenceNUM=Social%20Protection
Read An-Nahar Article (Arabic .pdf)

August 31, 2011
Palestinian university students work by night, study by day.
Read Dar Al-Hayat Article (Arabic .pdf)

August 29, 2011
The Lebanese Labour Watch launched an initiative on the working conditions of NGO workers and staff in Lebanon.
The initiative launched by the Lebanese Labour Watch includes the implementation of a study and questionnaire on the status and working conditions of the NGO employees and workers and other Civil Society Organizations in Lebanon, the benefits and rights accorded to them: A step aimed at calling employees to organize themselves to better their status and the application of laws.
The questionnaire can be accessed online through: http://daleel-madani.org/surveys/ar/node/3

August 26, 2011
Minister of Education Prof. Hassan Diab calls for vocational training reform: "Bold decisions should be taken for the benefit of the sector".
Read Houna Loubnan Article (Arabic .pdf)

August 13, 2011
A Unified Palestinian Delegation Presents Prime Minister Mikati a Memorandum Intended to Resolve Pending Refugees' Issues
Read As-Safir Article (in .pdf)

July 21, 2011
"Ambiguous" Ministerial Statement and International Commitments without Substance: The Reality of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Will Not Change?!
Read As-Safir Article (in .pdf)
Read the Official English Version of the Ministerial Statement (in .pdf)

June 18, 2011
Roundtable Discussion and Internal Meetings for Implementing the Labour Force Survey Among Palestinian Refugees.
Read about it

June 16, 2011
UPDATE on the ILO-CEP Seminar on “Social Security as a Human Right: What Options for Palestinian Refugees Living in Lebanon?”
Read about it

June 13, 2011
H.E. Dr. Abdullah and MP Elie Marouni Press Conference on the Lebanese-Palestinian Relations and the Rights of the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
The representative of the Palestinian Authority to Lebanon, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah carried out visits in the Bekaa to MPs Assem Araji and Tony Abou Khater, and held a Press conference at the Phalanges Party (Kataeb) premises in Zahle, where he was received by MP Elie Marouni and Chief of Bureau Pierre Moutran.
Read L’Orient Le-Jour article (.pdf)
Read An-Nahar article (.pdf)

June 7, 2011
UNRWA Launches the Catastrophic Ailment Relief Programme "CARE"
As noted in the May Issue of the LFO Community Newsletter, "UNRWA launched a new Programme for the Relief of Catastrophic Ailment. The Agency had announced on 8 April 2011 an increase of its coverage of tertiary healthcare services to Palestinian Refugees living in Lebanon. Effective 1st of May 2011, the average coverage will increase from 30% to 40%. All Palestinian patients are eligible to benefit from this increase at all UNRWA's contracted hospitals for tertiary care services. For surgical admissions, the coverage will be increased to 40% of the Ministry of Health cut rate. In the case of medical admissions, the Agency’s coverage will be raised from 200 USD to 250 USD per hospitalization day, with the duration extended from 10 to 12 days, hence increasing the ceiling per admission from 2,000 USD to 3,000 USD."
Read the Newsletter in Arabic (.pdf)
Read the Newsletter in English (.pdf)

June 1, 2011
ILO-CEP Seminar on “Social Security as a Human Right: What Options for Palestinian Refugees Living in Lebanon?”
The ILO Regional Office for Arab States in Beirut and the Committee for Employment of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon (CEP) are organizing a seminar on “Social Security as a Human Right: What Options for Palestinian Refugees Living in Lebanon?” on Wednesday June 1, 2011 at the Holiday Inn – Dunes (Dunes Ballroom), Verdun from 9:00-16:30.
This initiative, funded by the European Union, will bring together experts and key players in the field of social protection including representatives from government institutions, international organizations, the Lebanese and Palestinian civil society organizations, professional associations and the private sector.
The purpose of the seminar is to discuss and review the issue of social security for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and exchange views on policy options that can set the basis for a social protection strategy for Palestinian workers and their families.
Agenda in Arabic (.pdf)
Agenda in English (.pdf)
Read about the ILO-CEP Project “Improving Access to Employment and Social Protection for Palestinian Refugees Living in Lebanon.”

May 26, 2011
Issuance of Informational Memorandum #437 related to the Lebanese Social Security Law
As noted in an article featuring in As-Safir newspaper, the Director-General of the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), Dr. Mohammed Karaki, issued an Informational Memorandum bearing the number 437 which stipulates that the Palestinian Refugees working in Lebanon shall be subject to the provisions and benefits of the Lebanese Social Security Law with regard to the End of Service branch.
The memorandum states that, as of 02/09/2010, the Palestinian refugee who is working on the Lebanese territories and who is associated with one/or more sponsoring employee(s) -and his employers shall also be subjected to all the obligations set forth in the Social Security Law. The memorandum requires that the beneficiary should be residing in Lebanon, registered at the Directorate of Political and Refugee Affairs (DPRA) at the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities, linked to one/or more sponsoring employee(s), and holds a work permit according to the laws and regulations set forth.
Read the Article in Arabic (.pdf)

May 9, 2011
Launching of SDC’s Cooperation Strategy for Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
Under the patronage of H.E. Ms. Ruth Flint, Ambassador of Switzerland in Lebanon, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in Beirut launched on Friday May 6 its Cooperation Strategy for Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria for 2010-2014. The Launching Ceremony, held at the Swiss Ambassador’s residence, coincided with the marking of SDC’s 50th anniversary. Attendees included multi and bilateral partners and key stakeholders – UNRWA, UNDP, LPDC, CEP, ILO, UNODC, UNICEF, the Lebanese Red Cross, and Caritas.
H.E. Ms. Flint expressed in her welcoming note Switzerland’s continuous commitment to a comprehensive aid approach. Presentations by the SDC Regional Director, the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, and the Lebanese Red Cross were delivered at the event.
Read the presentation delivered by the SDC Regional Director outlining the Agency’s main domains of interventions (English .pdf)

May 5, 2011
The Lebanese Shura Council declines signing the Ministerial Decision regulating the implementation of the Law Amendment to Para 3 of Article 59 of the Labour Law.
"...In accordance with the closing of Paragraph 2 of Article 64 of the Lebanese Constitution, amended by virtue of Constitutional Law No. 18 dated 21/9/1990, the government shall only function in a caretaker capacity before it wins the trust vote, or after it resigns or is considered resigned. Therefore, it only assumes the functions related to the management of urgent and basic operations, i.e. issues that may affect the public interest if they are not taken care of. And since the regulatory implementation decision is not listed among those issues, it should not be dealt with until a new cabinet is formed and wins the trust vote, so it may be submitted once again to this Council."
Read the full text (Arabic .pdf)

April 28, 2011
Work is a Right - Together for Granting the Palestinian Refugees' Rights in Lebanon
On the occasion of the International Workers’ Day, the Palestinian-Lebanese Coalition for the Right to Work Campaign and the Civil Society Organizations are calling for a sit-in on Saturday April 30, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. in front of the UN-ESCWA building in Downtown Beirut.
Read the leaflet (Arabic .jpg)

April 12, 2011
UNRWA's Press Release on Increasing its Coverage of Tertiary Healthcare Services to Palestinian Refugees living in Lebanon
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) announced today that following intensive fundraising efforts, the Agency will increase its coverage of tertiary healthcare services to Palestinian Refugees living in Lebanon. Following these changes, effective from 1 May 2011, the average coverage will increase from 30% to 40%.
Read the Press Release (English & Arabic .pdf)

April 11, 2011
Colloquium on New Trends in Employment / Labour Law
The Center for the Study of Rights in the Arab World (CEDROMA), organized in collaboration with the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Saint Joseph University, a colloquium titled "Les nouvelles tendances du droit de travail."
Read CEDROMA's News (French .pdf)
Read L'Orient Le-Jour Article (French .pdf)

April 5, 2011
North Lebanon Job Fair 2011
With the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the National Employment Office (NEO) and the FORAS Association are organizing a Job Fair on April 7-9, 2011 in the RMF Campus in Mejdalya-Zghorta from 11:00 to 19:00. "This event will be a great occasion for job seekers to meet with Human Resources directors representing various companies to exchange with them information related to available vacancies within their firms as well as the profiles required."
Click here for poster
Click here for fair activities

April 1, 2011
New labor law unlikely to solve refugees' woes
“We heard about this law,” says Hassan al-Sheikh Hassan. “They tell us that a new labor law for Palestinians has been issued, but it doesn’t allow Palestinians to work in all jobs. They gave us a little ... but they [still] make it difficult for us to work.”
Sheikh Hassan, a father of six, was born in Lebanon 60 years ago to a Palestinian family from Jaffa. Seated amid his wife, daughter and grandchildren in his apartment in Tariq al-Jdideh, he discusses the challenges of working as a Palestinian refugee in Lebanon...."
Read The Daily Star Article (.pdf)

March 31, 2011
Vocational training for the construction sector to boost social and economic recovery and employment generation in southern Lebanon
More than one thousand Lebanese will have benefited from the ILO project ‘Skills development, employment services and local economic recovery for the construction sector in south Lebanon’ when a further 287 trainees receive a proficiency certificate at the Yassin Jaber Centre in the southern city of Nabatieh on Tuesday (March 29)...
Read the release in Arabic (.pdf)
Read the release in English (.pdf)

March 29, 2011
Palestinian Labor Rights Law Implementation
Implementation of Palestinian labor rights law deviates from actual text.
Read The Daily Star Article

March 21, 2011
Summary Report of the Briefing Session on VET2
Release of the Arabic & English versions of the Summary Report on the proceedings and recommendations of the Briefing Session on the Progress of VET2.
Read the Report

March 14, 2011
Interview with Ms. Mary Kawar
France 24 interviews the ILO Skills & Employability Specialist and CEP member Ms. Mary Kawar on 'Arab Youth Unemployment’.
Watch the Interview

March 10, 2011
CEP Press Release
CEP Press Release on the Signing of the Ministerial Decision implementing the Labour Law Amendment Regulating the Work of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon
Read the press release

March 8, 2011
Briefing on "Matching and Adapting Vocational Education and Training to Market Needs"
CEP-NPA Briefing Session on the Progress Phase 2 of the VET project titled “Matching and Adapting Vocational Education and Training to Market Needs”
Read about the event

March 3, 2011
The Palestinians' Long Wait in Lebanon
Lebanon hands out and renews hundreds of thousands of work permits every year to people from Africa, Asia and other Arab countries. But until now, only a handful have been given to the country’s large Palestinian refugee population.
Read the full article in The New York Times

February 24, 2011
Text & Reactions to the Passing of the Decision related to 'Regulating the Work of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon'
The National News Agency (ANN) posted on its portal the Text of the Decision passed on February 22nd, 2011 related to 'Regulating the Work of Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon.'
Read the Text in Arabic (.pdf)
Read the Daily Star Article (.pdf)
Read the As-Safir Article (.pdf)
Read the Reactions to the Passing of the Decisions in As-Safir (.pdf)

February 15, 2011
CEP-NPA Workshop “Matching and Adapting Vocational Education and Training to Market Needs”
The workshop is intended to present the Preliminary Results of the Consultancies commissioned by the NPA, namely 1) the Study undertaken by the Consultation & Research Institute (CRI) which aims “to analyze the reasons behind the success and failures of the VET students and recommend ways to better adapt courses to the demand of the labour market”: Overview of the updated shared database compiling information on graduates and courses from 7 VET providers; the Progress Report and Methodology for the remaining parts of the study - Focus groups, in depth interviews in health and office sectors; and 2) the Study undertaken by Dr. Abdel Majid Abdel Ghani aiming to assess the training programs offered by the 7 VET Providers (operating 23 training centers all over Lebanon) and make recommendations for curricula changes and modifications which will provide suggestions to improving the quality and relevance of the delivered training programs to market needs; and finally develop basic standards for specific occupations.
For a brief on the VET2 project, consult http://www.cep-lb.org/event11.html
Stakeholders who would like to attend the workshop are invited to contact the CEP Coordinator, Ms. Sahar Omran on info@cep-lb.org or call 71.215122

February 12, 2011
New draft labor law addresses gender discrimination, overtime
“This [draft] could be considered a ‘Code of Labor’ due to its huge importance and not a normal labor law,” Harb told a news conference Friday at the headquarters of the Cabinet in Mathaf, where he outlined the key features of the newly completed draft legislation. The draft law was not distributed to the media, as it is believed to require fine-tuning. Harb said it would be signed and sent to the Shura Council for review, and then to the secretariat of the Cabinet, for eventual debate…”
Read The Daily Star Article
Read L’Orient-Le Jour Article

January 28, 2011
The Right to Work was passed… however, where is the implementation mechanism?
   Under the title "The Right to Work was passed…however, where is the implementation mechanism?", Al Akhbar article notes that "After the adoption of the Right to Work for the Palestinians, the refugees did not run down to the Ministry of Labour to issue work permits. The figures show that only 6 (six) Palestinians have applied for a work permit since the passing of the Law amendments – simply because there's still no implementation mechanism for these amendments… These two "stimulating" steps, as described by Mr. Ziad El Sayegh – expert in Palestinian Affairs and former member of the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Committee – "should have driven the Palestinians to the Ministry of Labour to benefit from their passing". However four months after the adoption of the draft bills, the Ministry of Labour did not witness an "attack" of the unemployed workers, neither did the Palestinians enter in droves to the Ministry headquarters in Msharrafieh – in spite of the offered "temptations". The reason behind that is simply because the implementation mechanism does not exist yet, and the MoL is still looking for the appropriate mechanism to implement the new Law.
   The Minister of Labour, Mr. Boutros Harb, had gathered a cluster team composed of representatives from UNRWA and the ILO, as well as any representative from the MoL, in order to develop this mechanism without which the law is merely 'ink on paper'. According to informed sources in the Ministry of Labour, the best mechanism that can be applied is the one that was implemented prior to the passing of the new law, i.e. the currently applied mechanism. Mr. El Sayegh invokes the necessity of the issuance of the work permit by explaining the ensuing gains that the refugees will be able to benefit from.
   The Palestinian activists, those that are well-informed on the file, reject the adopted formula, in spite of the facilities that the Ministry claims it would present to the Palestinians applying for work permits. The reason for this rejection lies in the fact that the Palestinian worker would be obliged to find a sponsoring employee who would agree to formally employ him – since there are no incentives to employing a Palestinian worker particularly because his employment would entail double costs on the employer, as compared to the Lebanese worker: the Palestinians do not benefit from the NSSF's health services which make it imperative for employers to pay for the health insurance of the Palestinian worker by 100%; while this percentage does not reach 20% with regard to the Lebanese worker, especially since the NSSF covers 80% of the health services. It follows that the employment of the Palestinian is "inconvenient" in view of the ensuing costs that burden the employers…"
Read the Article

January 28, 2011
Human Rights Film Festival
Day 2 of The Human Rights Film Festival - Refugees' Rights
Within the framework of the EU-funded “Multimedia Virtual Space for Human Rights” project, the festival will host a Speaker Presentation on Refugees' Rights in Lebanon; followed by an open discussion with Mr. Wadih Asmar – Secretary General of C.L.D.H. / Lawyer Nizar Saghieh / Ms Ninette Kelly - UNHCR's Representative.
Read the Program

January 6-7, 2011
"The Regional Forum on Economic and Social Rights in Light of the Global Crises: What is the Alternative Development Model in the Arab Region?"
As noted on the ANND Portal: "...there is an increasing need to promote a strong role for civil society in the formation of alternative views about policy-making, especially in the economic and social spheres, which would be rooted in the local and national priorities and needs. This ought to be accompanied by the promotion of research and analysis on public policies in the region based on knowledge stemming from national contexts and experiences, and aiming at influencing public opinion and policy makers. The Forum this year contributes towards the preparations of civil society groups in regards to the second Arab Economic and Social Summit that will take place in January 2011 in Egypt. It also aims at Making available a regional space to enhance the debate between civil society organizations on economic and social policies and rights in the Arab region, and alternatives in these areas."
Read the Agenda in English (pdf)
Read the Agenda in Arabic (pdf)
Read the Parallel Sessions in Arabic (pdf)

December 23, 2010
"The Role of the Palestinian CSOs in the passing of rights, the support to the refugees' civil rights and the defense of the Right to Return" Discussion Session
"On the occasion of its 4th Anniversary and under the patronage of H.E. Minister of State Mr. Wael Abu Faour, the Palestinian Organization for the Right of Return THABIT (http://www.thabit-lb.org/) held at the Meridien-Commodore Hotel a Discussion Session titled "The Role of the Palestinian CSOs in the passing of the rights, support to the refugees' civil rights and the defense of the Right to Return". Attendees included representatives of the Palestinian CSOs, MP Ammar Houri (representing His Excellency Prime Minister Saad Hariri); Mr. Nicolas Sehnaoui (representing General Michel Aoun); Lieutenant Ziad Kaedbey (representing the Minister of Interior & Municipalities, Mr. Ziad Baroud); the Director of UNRWA Affairs in Lebanon, Mr. Salavatore Lombardo; the Head of the LPDC, Me. Maya Majzoub; and the Ambassador of Spain to Lebanon, Mr. Juan Carlos Gafo."
Read As-Safir Article in Arabic (.pdf)
Read Al-Akhbar article in Arabic
Read THABIT’s Report in Arabic (.pdf)

December 22, 2010
Reform of Palestinian Work Rights Insufficient, Report Says
"Recent labor reform laws that eased restrictions on Palestinians’ right to work are full of contradictions and will be difficult to implement in the future, a legal report released Tuesday has said.
Compiled by the Human Development Center, with support from the Canadian international development agency, the findings show that parliamentary legislation adopted in August is insufficient to alleviate the humanitarian concerns of Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon...."
Read the article in The Daily Star

December 19, 2010
CEP Newsletter, Fall 2010, released
Read the newsletter (in .pdf)

December 15, 2010
The Palestinian-Lebanese Coalition's campaign for the "Right to Work" of the Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
Attorney Hamelkart Ataya explained at the Symposium the SSNP's (Syrian Social Nationalist Party) point of view about the legal amendments that were passed in Parliament describing them as "an empty law which does not grant any rights to the Palestinian refugee; actually it's the farthest opposite: the restrictions on Palestinians have been amplified. He pointed out that "the main obstacle which was and will remain for Palestinians does not lie in the fees, but in the work permit and securing a sponsor, employer, to facilitate their obtainment of a work permit."
Me. Ataya then invoked the Bill which was submitted by the SSNP to the Parliament, and he pointed out that the next step "would be to call on the Administration and Justice Committee to put the Draft Bill to the vote as per the parliamentary rules."
The Palestinian-Lebanese Coalition stressed that it will pursue its campaign until "the attainment of an all-inclusive justice in the implementation of the Charter of Human Rights; in the exemption of Palestinians from the condition of the principle of reciprocity in the Labour Laws, Social Security, and the free/liberal trade unions (syndicates); and in the elimination of the work permit."
On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Coalition called on participants to attend a meeting on "The Palestinian people's humanitarian and socio-economic rights" on Friday December 17, 2010 at 18:00 at Tawfic Tabbara Center (El Zarif, Beirut).
Read As-Safir Article (Arabic)

December 14, 2010
AUB-UNRWA Socio-Economic Survey on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon
The American University of Beirut and the UNRWA will hold a seminar to launch the results of the Socio-Economic Survey conducted jointly by the AUB and UNRWA in 2010 on Palestinian refugees in Lebanon: "The nationally representative random survey of 2,600 Palestinian households reveals for the first time accurate information on the demographic characteristics of refugees, in addition to health, food security, education, employment, housing, and livelihood conditions."
The seminar will be held from 9:00 to 10:30 at the AUB (College Hall, Auditorium B1)

December 13, 2010
Seminar on Vulnerable Populations at the AUB
The Human Research Protection Program at AUB will hold its first seminar in the Human Research Seminar Series. The "Research Involving Vulnerable Populations" Seminar will be held at the AUB's Amphitheatre (Faculty of Health Sciences).
Read the program (English .pdf)

December 10, 2010
Human Rights: Three priorities for Lebanon
Opening Editorial of the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Mr. Michael Williams, on the occasion of the Human Rights Day
Read The Daily Star article:
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=122376#axzz17gWgRw6V

December 6-10, 2010
The 10th Meeting of the ‘Palestinian Right of Return Coalition’
The 10th Meeting of the ‘Palestinian Right of Return Coalition’ – organized by the Coordination Forum of NGOs working among the Palestinian Community in Lebanon & the Refugees Rights Center (Aidoun) - will include a roundtable on the challenges facing the Palestinian Refugees’ issue and their Right to Return; discussion sessions on the Declaration of Beirut for the Right of Return; meetings with the Lebanese Parliamentary Blocs and the Head of the LPDC; field visits; and a Press release on Friday December 10th at 11:00 at the Lebanese Press Syndicate.
Read the program (Arabic .pdf)

November 29, 2010
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), celebrates the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The official ceremony will be held at the UN House in Downtown Beirut - wherein the statements of Palestine and Lebanon will be delivered, in addition to the statement of ESCWA and the message of the Secretary General of the UN - will be followed by a panel discussion on "Efforts to Attain Palestinian Rights."

November 20, 2010
World Social Security Report 2010/11. Providing coverage in times of crisis and beyond
The International Labour Organization has released the first in a new series of biennial reports that aim to map social security coverage globally, to presenting various methods and approaches for assessing coverage, and to identifying gaps in coverage.
Read the full report

November 11, 2010
“Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics”
Launching of the “Combating Poverty and Inequality: Structural Change, Social Policy and Politics” Global Report prepared by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) at the UN House in Beirut.
Read the full report

November 9, 2010
Conference on breaking the 'Cliché Image' of Palestinians in Lebanon
Under the auspices of the Minister of Information, Mr. Tarek Mitri, 'Al Masar' (Cultural & Media NGO) held a Conference on breaking the 'Cliché Image' of Palestinians in Lebanon. The workshop titled "Crafting the Palestinians’ image in Lebanon: A Shared Lebanese-Palestinian responsibility" was held at the Coral Beach Hotel in Beirut.
Al-Akhbar Article (Arabic PDF)
As-Safir Article (Arabic PDF)

November 9, 2010
Conference on Improving the Social Image of the Vocational & Technical Education
A Regional Conference was held at the Coral Beach Hotel in Beirut wherein more than 80 officials, experts in vocational & technical education, and representatives of the business sector and civil society – from Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Egypt - discussed improving the Social Image of the Vocational & Technical Education.
As-Safir Article (Arabic PDF)

October 18, 2010
Church Launches "The State of Palestine and the Right to Return Prevent Naturalization Act." (Arabic)
The Lebanese Maronite League (http://www.maronite-league.org.lb) and the Maronite Center for Documentation and Research (http://www.bkerke.org.lb/arabic/index.php) will launch "The State of Palestine and the Right to Return Prevent 'Tawteen'/naturalization" Act – The 50-page Act/document, which will be disseminated in a Press Conference (in the coming weeks) and circulated to national and international stakeholders in Arabic, French and English, tackles the issue of 'tawteen' on three main levels. [read more...]

October 8-9, 2010
"From Relief And Works to Human Development: UNRWA And Palestinian Refugees After 60 Years"
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) held a two-day International Conference titled "From Relief and Works to Human Development: UNRWA and Palestinian Refugees after 60 years".
The Conference’s interventions (including Sergio Bianchi's "Community Participation and Human Rights Advocacy: Questions Arising from the Campaign about the Right to Work of Lebanon's Palestinian Refugees") can be accessed through the following link: http://www.aub.edu.lb/ifi/public_policy/pal_camps/

October 1, 2010
Code of Conduct for the Arab Syndicated Organizations
The Lebanese Trade Union Training Center (L.T.U.T.C.) has released – with the support of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation - a Code of Conduct for the Arab Syndicated Organizations.
Read the Code of Conduct (Arabic PDF)
Read Al Mustaqbal Article

September 8, 2010
CEP Commissions Study Concerning the Legislative Amendments of August 17, 2010
In pursuit of its aim to provide accurate and objective information pertaining to the employment of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, the CEP commissioned a Legal Study to attorney Fadi El Kobrossi to analyse and assess the legislative amendments – Laws 128 & 129 – passed in Parliament on August 17, 2010.

September 1, 2010
Full Text of Amendments to "Right to Work for Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon"
The Full text of the legal amendments related to the Right to Work for Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon is published in Issue 41 of the Official Gazette (Pages 5141-5142):
Law 128: Amendment of Article 9 of the Social Security Law; and Law 129: Amendment of Article 59 of the Lebanese Labour Law.
Read the Amendment (Arabic PDF)

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