Scio- Political Context:

According to UNRWA figures, Lebanon hosts approximately 430,000 Palestinian refugees. The refugees live largely in squalid 12 camps and around 20 gatherings (unofficial camps) with inhuman conditions. They have been for a long time regarded as being the main trigger of civil violence in the mid-seventies. Neglected and deprived from practicing regular jobs, the Palestinians in Lebanon form the core of a highly controversial issue that would need to be tackled. The Palestinian refugee human rights issue needs to be discussed frankly among Lebanese local community and stakeholdres with full participation of Palestinians themselves. This should be accompanied with concrete improvement of the living conditions of Palestinians along with exemptioning them from the labor laws that have hitherto restricted their access to jobs

Due to the lack of right to work for Palestinians in the country, in participatory approach, AN launched the "Palestinians Right to Work Campaign" during the first half of 2005. Some others such as; P.L.O. refugee committee launched campaign on Palestinians civil rights. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) in partnership with local NGOs working among Palestinians in Lebanon (AN, PARD, and GUPW) since 2005 have been involving in Advocacy and Human rights project for Palestinians N-IDs. The above mentioned campaigns included awareness raising activities, producing media materials (poster and leaflet) and workshops. Cooperation between all initiatives was achieved due to the discussion and work on the field. Cooperation focused mainly on conducting and organizing common visits to Lebanese key persons, stakeholders and policy makers.

In June 2005, Lebanese Minister of Labour issued a memorandum No. 67/1 allowing Palestinian refugees to obtain work permits for some trades and professions that are not organized by relating Unions and Syndicates and that were previously difficult to obtain. While this was a positive development, it has not had a perceptible impact on the Palestinian employment situation. In 2005 only 272 work permits were issued for Palestinian refugees, while in 2006 only 182 work permits were given to them. It is worth mentioning that Palestinians who obtain work permits are exempted from benefiting from the Lebanese public social security.

AN considered the memorandum of the Lebanese labour minister is a positive step, but not enough towards the right to work for Palestinians. At another level, AN considered that the memorandum will not solving the right to work issue and problems for Palestinians due to: a- exclusion main jobs such as engineering, lawyer, doctor, nurses, and etc from the memorandum, b- Palestinians workers treat as foreigners by conditions to pay and to obtain work permit, c- the work permit should renew yearly and employees should pay year for that, d- those who will obtain the work permit will not benefit from any social and health public services while paying for this.

Project Overall objective:

Enabling Palestinian refugees in Lebanon of their right to work and to be treated equally to Lebanese. Thus, excluding them from Lebanese labour law, from obtaining work permits and from the reciprocity conditions (that is currently implemented in the laws and practices of ministry of Labour)

Diakonia - Project Application Form

Right of Work Campaign - for the Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon Mid Annual Narrative Report, 1st Jan - 12th July 06