It is nevertheless appalling to note that, despite the law on the free flow of information in public institutions, neither the Ministry of Labor nor the Ministry of Social Affairs have ever published any statistics, even partial, on the number of young boys and girls being dropped among cars at peak times, offering the most diverse items at competitive prices, goods which origin is often not even known.
Have the public authorities ever thought about investigating the identity of persons or entities who exploit with impunity these out-of-school minors, thrown out onto the street with the aim of soliciting the pity of the citizens? Are we aware, for example, that there are real networks organized in mafias to collect money, for the benefit of some unknown parallel economy?
Having become the all-category champion of laxity in the face of unenforced laws, the Lebanese State also turns a blind eye to many breaches of the labor law. Since the 1975-1990 civil war, child labor, until then limited, has erupted. More than 10% of 10-17 year olds work, which puts this country at the bottom of the Middle East.
Even if the situation in the country is not the most serious, many children are forced to work to help their families. Many young boys are employed in agriculture, metallurgy or carpentry. Their working conditions are cruel and children are killing themselves for a miserable wage. However, Lebanon has signed the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention on Child Labour, but severely lacks the means to implement its provisions.
This is not to mention the Syrian refugees’ children frequently employed by Lebanese people who subject them to poor living conditions in exchange for a meager salary.
So many reforms to be carried out, in the hope of getting Lebanon out of the rut! From expectation to expectation, the country is dying of desperation...