Norway funds ILO project to combat child labor

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has launched a project to combat child labor among Syrian refugees. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged $728,332 to fund the one-year project.

The project aims at preventing thousands of Syrian and local children from engaging in the worst forms of child labor.

It will work on tremoving hundreds of 5-to-13-year- old children from exploitative work in the agricultural sector and in street-based work. The children will be place in community rehabilitation centers to receive social counseling, and education and recreational services.

ILO will also be providing their families with livelihoods.

Ouzai, Kahale, the Beqaa, and South Lebanon will be the focus of activities that cover different sectors of child labor.

Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States, said: “The influx of refugees has caused a rise in child labor.”

She said that the project will also conduct training workshops to inform children, parents, community members, employers, and NGOs, about the dangers of child labor.

ILO defines the worst forms of child labor as work that is likely to harm the health, safety, and morals of children. It also includes work where children are victims of illicit activities such as forced labor, prostitution, armed conflict and drug trafficking.