The phenomenon of child labor represents one of the most prominent violations of children’s rights in Syrian society, as it directly affects their physical, mental, and psychological development, depriving them of education and a dignified life. With the transformations Syria is undergoing, the necessity emerges to readjust the legal and practical framework in accordance with international obligations and to ensure the protection of children’s rights.
Legal Framework Governing Child Labor
1. The Syrian Constitution
States that the state guarantees the protection of childhood and provides free and compulsory education in its basic stages (Article 20).
2. Syrian Child Rights Law – Law No. 21 of 2021
Article 28: Prohibits the economic exploitation of children or forcing them to perform work that harms their health, development, or education.
Article 29: Emphasizes the prohibition of employing children under 15 years of age and criminalizes all forms of forced labor.
3. Syrian Penal Code
Article 488 and subsequent articles: Criminalize the employment of children in work that threatens their safety or exposes them to danger, and establish financial and imprisonment penalties for violators.
4. Anti-Human Trafficking Law – Decree No. 3 of 2010
Classifies the employment of children in forced labor or organized begging as human trafficking crimes.
Prescribed Penalties
Imprisonment from one month to three years and a financial fine of no less than 100,000 Syrian pounds for anyone who employs a child below the legal age or subjects them to forced or harmful labor.
Confiscation or closure of the establishment in case of proven repetition or child trafficking.
Proposals and Solutions within the Framework of New Syria
1. Legislative
Amending current legal provisions to strengthen penalties against those who exploit children in the labor market.
Adding provisions requiring employers to prove the legal age of workers and imposing strict penalties in case of forgery.
2. Administrative and Executive
Establishing a specialized labor inspection apparatus to protect children and monitor workplaces.
Activating hotlines for reporting violations with confidentiality and effectiveness.
3. Social and Educational
Making education compulsory until age 15, and providing financial incentives to poor families in exchange for keeping their children in schools.
Supporting community organizations that provide alternative educational programs for dropout children.
4. Economic
Providing financial and food support programs for vulnerable families to reduce dependence on children’s income.
Launching government-funded small projects to secure alternative income for needy families.
5. Awareness
Extensive media campaigns to promote children’s rights culture and warn against the dangers of early employment.
Involving religious leaders and social influencers in spreading this culture.
Conclusion and Recommendations
In building New Syria, it is essential to surround children with a legal and social framework that protects them from exploitation and grants them the full right to education and a dignified life. Addressing child labor is not only a legal responsibility, but a comprehensive moral, humanitarian, and societal responsibility.
