Lebanon launches new app on rights and responsibilities at work in Lebanon

The app, developed by the ILO in partnership with Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour, UNICEF, worker and employer organizations and other key stakeholders, aims to strengthen decent work practices in the country.

بيان صحفي | ١٤ مارس, ٢٠٢٣
The "Houkouki fi al 3amal" app can be accessed on Android and IOS devices at www.houkouki-fi-al-3amal.com
BEIRUT (ILO News) - A new mobile application developed by the ILO is set to boost decent work practices in Lebanon by providing information and training for workers, employers and wider society on rights and responsibilities at work.

The “Houkouki fil al 3amal” – or “My rights at work” – application features a section on key aspects of the Lebanese labour law, a downloadable user-friendly guide, and self-paced training modules.

The app was launched at an event held in Beirut under the patronage of Lebanon’s Minister of Labour Moustafa Bayram. It was developed under two ILO projects funded by UNICEF and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, in partnership with Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour, the Association of Lebanese Industrialists, the National Federation of Employees’ and Workers’ Union, the General Confederation of Lebanese Workers and other key stakeholders in Lebanon. The app will be managed by Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour.

“Young people in Lebanon today face a very difficult situation where jobs are rare, and many work in informal economy or are seeking self-employment. Finding a job with a voice, protection and rights is hard,” said Peter Rademaker, ILO Deputy Regional Director for the Arab States. “This new app is a useful tool for people struggling to find decent jobs in Lebanon, where they can learn to advocate and call for their rights at work, consider joining trade unions, and ensure they have the right conditions and wages they deserve.”

“This initiative is a steppingstone in supporting the Ministry of Labour’s agenda of moving towards e-governance, thanks to joint efforts with UNICEF and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. It complements the ILO and its partners’ work to develop skills and make better matches between the workforce and available decent jobs,” Rademaker added.

Speakers at the Beirut launch event included Minister of Labour Moustafa Bayram, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation Alessandra Piermattei, ILO Deputy Regional Director for the Arab States Peter Rademaker, UNICEF Representative in Lebanon Edouard Beigbeder, President of the Association of Lebanese Industrialists Salim Zeeni represented by board member Ahmad Jaber, and President National Federation of Workers and Employees Trade Unions in Lebanon Castro Abdallah.

A lack of awareness among workers and employers of the standards and provisions of the labour law, and the frequent failure to implement the provisions of relevant laws and to protect workers, pose major challenges in ensuring decent working conditions in Lebanon. This is particularly the case for new entrants to the labour market and the employment services that support their placement in job opportunities.

The app aims to build capacity, knowledge and awareness regarding rights and obligations at the workplace. The app’s training programme is intended to empower trainees by providing them with basic knowledge on the rights and fundamental mutual obligations upon signing an employment contract. The guide describes the main content of the Lebanese labour law to help employers and workers to learn more about the provisions of the Lebanese labour laws on their rights and responsibilities and to better understand their use in practice as an essential mean of improving working conditions and mutual labor relations.

The app can also be used as a support tool by counsellors at employment agencies for guidance and negotiation or other individuals interested to enhance their knowledge about the labour law regulations. The content builds on the Lebanese Labor Law, the international conventions ratified by Lebanon, and good practices/real examples in order to improve the employment relationship. Visitors can also explore frequently asked questions and responses and interact with the experts of the Ministry of Labour for guidance on relevant issues.

The App was developed within the context of the Joint ILO-UNICEF Programme “Towards improved formal and non-formal Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Lebanon,” and the ILO project “Improved access to employment opportunities for Lebanese and refugee graduates from skills training” funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.