ILO Unveils First Ag Safety Guide in Lebanon

The International Labour Organization and Lebanon's Ministry of Agriculture have launched the Occupational Safety and Health Guide in Agriculture for Lebanon, marking an important step toward improving occupational safety and health (OSH) standards in the country.

The guide was developed following more than two years of consultations with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Labour, ILO's social partners, and key stakeholders in the agriculture sector. It also draws on the findings and recommendations of the ILO's Preliminary Assessment of Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture, conducted in Akkar and Bekaa in May 2022. The assessment identified major hazards for agricultural workers, including physical, chemical, mechanical, biological, ergonomic, and psychosocial risks.

It revealed that farm-level safety practices generally did not comply with ILO guidelines or internationally recognized standards, with limited use of protective equipment and minimal worker training.

The new guide directly addresses these issues and seeks to challenge the status quo.

"Today, we are not merely launching a guide, but laying the foundation for a new model of agricultural governance in Lebanon," said Lebanon's Minister of Agriculture, Nizar Hani. "This model is set to integrate safety and health into every stage of production and places the dignity and well-being of workers at its core. Safe agriculture is not only a moral duty, but also an economic and developmental necessity for a more just countryside and a sustainable future."

The new guide builds on the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, which emphasizes the right to a safe and healthy working environment. It also promotes the application of international labour standards, particularly ILO Convention No. 184 on OSH in Agriculture and Convention No. 129 on Labour Inspection in Agriculture.

The guide was developed by the ILO under the PROSPECTS Partnership, a global programme supported by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented in partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), and the World Bank.

"We are delighted that the topic of safety has become a matter of high interest across Lebanon's labour market, and specifically in the agriculture sector, one of the country's key economic engines," said the Netherlands' Ambassador to Lebanon, Frank Mollen. "Through PROSPECTS we are working with local and international partners to strengthen the resilience of the crisis-hit labour market and create better livelihoods for all those working in agriculture, both Lebanese and Syrian. OSH efforts lead to better working conditions, which ultimately benefit the country as a whole."

The guide was piloted as a practical tool for trainers across Lebanon who participated in four-day training programmes last year, as well as for those aspiring to become OSH trainers in the future. These trainers played a key role in validating the technical content before its official adoption. The guide was also tested through training sessions for 400 farmers and agricultural workers in Akkar and Beqaa, in partnership with the René Moawad Foundation (RMF).

"The launch of this new Occupational Safety and Health guide marks a key step toward advancing decent work in Lebanon's agriculture sector. OSH is one of the ILO's fundamental principles, ensuring that workers can carry out their jobs in safe and dignified conditions," said Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States. "By strengthening safety standards and raising awareness, we are helping protect the rights and well-being of both Lebanese and vulnerable workers who play a vital role in the country's food security and rural economy. Its use by the Ministry of Agriculture's extension offices is also an important step toward institutionalization."

The new guide includes 11 modules, covering national and international law and legislation; principles and fundamentals of OSH; physical, chemical, mechanical, biological, and other hazards; ergonomic malpractices; psychosocial hazards; and the specific risks faced by women and children working in agriculture.

Nearly three million workers die every year due to work-related accidents and diseases according to ILO estimates. One-in-three fatal occupational injuries worldwide occur among agricultural workers. The toll highlights the persistent challenges in safeguarding the health and safety of workers, globally . Workplace accidents and occupational diseases cost the economy 4% of GDP annually.