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Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat’s meeting with Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun discussed the ILO’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s recovery, reconstruction and social protection efforts
BEIRUT (ILO News) – During a meeting with the President of the Republic of Lebanon Joseph Aoun, the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Regional Director for Arab States Ruba Jaradat reaffirmed the ILO’s commitment to supporting Lebanon’s post-conflict recovery, through its collaboration with the country’s leadership, as Lebanon seeks to recover from conflict, navigate an ongoing economic and social crisis and promote stability and long-term development.
During the meeting, Jaradat, who was accompanied by an ILO delegation from the Regional Office for Arab States, extended her congratulations to President Aoun on his recent election and on the formation of Lebanon’s new cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Jaradat reaffirmed the ILO’s readiness to work closely with the new leadership alongside employer and worker representatives, and in close collaboration with other UN agencies operating in the country, to address Lebanon’s urgent social and economic priorities, and to contribute to efforts for national recovery and reconstruction.
Jaradat briefed President Aoun on the ILO’s current Emergency Response Plan in Lebanon, designed to mitigate the impact of conflict on residents and the labour market. The plan aligns with the ILO’s core mandate to promote decent work, economic sustainability and social protection, particularly for the country’s most vulnerable communities.
At this critical time in Lebanon’s history, this important meeting with President Aoun served to reaffirm the ILO’s readiness to support the Government in addressing labour market disruptions, strengthening social protection systems, rebuilding infrastructure and advancing employment policies that respond to Lebanon’s evolving challenges,
Jaradat stated following the meeting.
The ILO’s support to Lebanon spans a wide range of initiatives. In response to the current crisis, the ILO, together with the Ministry of Social Affairs and UNICEF, has delivered emergency cash transfers to tens of thousands of persons with disabilities using national systems, marking a significant milestone in using domestic budget allocations for social protection.
The meeting also touched on the ILO’s continued support to the implementation of Lebanon’s National Social Protection Strategy (NSPS), which was approved in November 2024. This includes the organisation of national policy dialogues aimed at sustaining momentum on social protection reform.
In the employment sector, the ILO has implemented infrastructure rehabilitation and solar energy projects that have created short-term employment opportunities and fostered skills development. Targeted support has also been extended to farmers and agricultural workers affected by the crisis, and rapid assessments are under way to better understand the impact on enterprises and workers, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
In addition, the ILO reaffirmed its collaboration with the Central Administration of Statistics on the Labour Force Survey, and its technical support to the Ministry of Labour in designing and piloting a digital platform to match workers in the care economy with job opportunities.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Jaradat updated President Aoun on the ILO’s work across the Arab States region where it continues to support national reforms, strengthen social protection systems, advance gender equality, and fosters job creation through technical assistance, policy advice and strong partnerships with governments, workers and employers.