The Twin Challenges of Child Labour and Youth Employment in the Arab States: An overview

This ILO (International Labour Organisation) report examines the closely intertwined issues of child labour and youth marginalisation within the Arab States, i.e. Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Qatar, Syria, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

The report presents the child labour-related concerns of the region with particular focus on access to education and future prospects for children who work. These concerns and challenges are then translated into ILO programming and how ILO programming should change to better address these issues.

Youth employment is also addressed. The report calls for greater attention to vulnerable youth with little or no education. These youth are more likely to be caught in informal and unreliable forms of employment that are poorly paid.

The report is intended to inform the ILO Decent Work Agenda and for social and economic development in general.