8.2.4. To eradicate forced labor, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labor.
Lebanese University promotes decent work and economic growth for the sake of enhancing all staff, the faculty, and students' performance. In this sense, the Lebanese University as a public institution abides by the Lebanese Labor Law and public decrees which define wages according to functions.
The LU, as a public institution abides by the Lebanese laws that are bound by international treaties and declarations which forbid forced labor, modern slavery and human trafficking, and child labor.
The Lebanese University abide by the regulations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and enforces its provisions regarding no forced labor, no modern slavery and no human trafficking, and no child labor. Since 2014, the LU focused all faculties to teach Human Rights course, in compliance with the UN principles.
The Lebanese University, as a public institution abides by the Lebanese laws that are bound by international treaties and declarations which forbid forced labor, modern slavery, and human trafficking, and child labor.
International policies and programs for ending forced labor:
The 2014 Protocol to ILO Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour, 1930 and its accompanying Recommendation No. 203 (henceforth, the Forced Labour Protocol and Forced Labour Recommendation).
Where said, "If we want to make a significant change in the lives of the 25 million men, women and children in forced labour, we need to take concrete and immediate action. Let’s not just be angry at slavery, let’s make change happen.”
The Forced Labour Protocol and Recommendation, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 103rd Session in June 2014, bring ILO standards against forced labour into the modern era and provide an important additional impetus and strategic framework for the global effort to eradicate it.
Without altering the basic definition of forced labour, the Forced Labour Protocol and Recommendation complement and update — but do not replace — the fundamental ILO standards of 1930 and 1957 by accounting for changes in the contexts and forms of forced labour in the contemporary global economy. The instruments explicitly recognize modern forms of trafficking for forced labour, including for forced sexual commercial exploitation, as the subject of growing international concern requiring urgent action. The instruments also recognize the increased number of workers who are in forced labour in the private economy, and that certain groups of workers have a higher risk of becoming victims of forced labour, especially people on the move.
The inter-Parliamentary Union define Eliminating Forced Labor Handbook for Parliamentarians No. 30. This handbook provides concrete step-by-step guidance and a checklist to support parliamentarians to take effective action in addressing forced labor.
For centuries, parliamentarians across the world have combated slavery. Modern forms of slavery, however, still thrive. On any given day in 2016, an estimated 24.9 million people were subjected to forced labour. In flagrant violation of fundamental human rights, over 17 percent are children, vulnerable to severe exploitation and abuses.
Recent years have seen increased legislative action at the international and national levels. A vast majority of countries have laws prohibiting either forced labour or human trafficking, or both. Many of these laws, enacted by parliamentarians, were formulated with technical assistance from the International Labour Organization (ILO). They not only criminalize forced labour but also provide legal guarantees for victims by way of protection measures and access to legal remedies..
In 2014, the Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, was overwhelmingly adopted by the ILO’s tripartite constituents, along with the Forced Labour (Supplementary Measures) Recommendation, 2014 (No. 203). Reflecting the knowledge accumulated over decades from all regions of the world, the two instruments are clear and authoritative beacons as States progress in their fight against forced labour.
The Lebanese Labour Law is applicable to all workers and employers except domestic workers, agricultural workers, enterprises limited to family members and public servants. The DLIPS supervises the implementation of all laws, regulations, decrees and rules pertaining to the terms and conditions of employment, and the protection of workers in the workplace, including the provisions of international labour Conventions ratified. Labour inspectors ensure the supervision of compliance with regulations regarding conditions of employment and protection of workers including occupational safety and health. In addition, they monitor if trade unions and occupational associations comply with relevant laws, monitor compliance with protection and safety measures in family enterprises and the work of private employment agencies. Under their functions they also investigate collective labour disputes. They are also involved in conciliation and the control of work permits for foreign workers.
As the public educational institution in Lebanon, the Lebanese University adheres to the principles, regulations and laws that protect workers, and considers that attention must be paid to Lebanese youth who face a great challenge due to the lack of job opportunities and high unemployment rates, which explains their desire to emigrate.
The Lebanese University also supports efforts aimed at bridging the gender gap in the labor market, and focuses on the following key points in its strategy of dealing with the issue of decent work and economic growth:
Working to restore respect for the social contract that includes human rights in access to education;
Providing access to decent work, health and social care, old-age security, housing, transportation and clean environment;
Providing comprehensive social protection from birth to old age by establishing a social protection basis that provides a basic level of protection for every person in need, especially in the areas of health and unemployment;
Establishing a comprehensive guarantee for workers, regardless of their contracting arrangements or employment status, and basic workers' rights and adequate living wages;
Ensuring collective representation of workers and employers through equal social dialogue as a public interest (unions and associations).
The employees and professors of the Lebanese University are considered public sector employees who are subject to special Law No. 46/2017 (public salary scale law) regarding their wages and Law No. 206/2012 regarding the wages for Lebanese University professors.
Under the Lebanese laws, the University is bound by international conventions and declarations that prohibit forced labor or any kind of slavery, human trafficking, and child labor. Since 2014, the Lebanese University has introduced a human right’s course in all faculties, in accordance with UN principles.
According to the Labor Law, the Lebanese University guarantees the rights of its employees of both genders. When there is a need to outsource external workers to carry out specific activities, the University concludes agreements with foreign companies and binds those companies to specific conditions related to the protection of workers' rights (pay, transportation, health insurance, vacations ...).
