0033 A survey of child labourers among syrian refugees in agrarian lebanon

Abstract

Background Since the outbreak of the war in Syria in 2011, over 1 million Syrians have sought refuge in Lebanon, more than half of whom are children below 18 years of age. Recent reports have highlighted the increasing numbers of Syrian children working in Lebanese agricultural settings. Methods This research will utilise cluster random sampling to enrol into a survey 500 households living in informal tented settlements near the agricultural areas of the Beqaa Valley, Lebanon. A questionnaire was designed to capture information on the living and working conditions of child labourers living in these communities. The surveys will collect data on household socioeconomic and demographic information, migration history, and service usage. Data will also be collected on child labourers demographics, work history and experience, education, health status, and life experiences. The quantitative data from the survey will be entered into a descriptive analysis aimed at identifying trends in the population data. The findings will be categorised by age, gender, location, and other salient variables. Results This report will highlight the working conditions that predominate Lebanon’s migrant child labour force, while exploring the familial and household context that affect these children’s experiences as migrants, workers, and children. Discussion The analysis will highlight how migration push factors such as war and the conditions of extreme familial poverty may necessitate child labour. This research will provide contextualised understandings of refugee children’s participation in the agricultural labour force and support targeted interventions aimed at increasing education and childhood opportunities for these young people.