Result of Service

The consultant is expected to provide a final report that includes recommendations to ensure alignment and consistency between the internal regulations related to the Labour Law, particularly those affecting the implementation of flexible work arrangements, and to develop draft by-laws governing the implementation of these new flexible work arrangements.

Work Location

Remote

Expected duration

3 months

Duties and Responsibilities

Background In May 2025, the Lebanese Parliament adopted Law No. 3/2025, amending the Labour Law to formally recognize flexible, part-time, and remote work arrangements and to extend National Social Security Fund (NSSF) coverage of workers. This new law was proposed by the Head of the Women and Children Parliamentary Committee following a process that included a case study on childcare in Lebanon, public hearings and dialogues, in addition to a legal study and meetings, all in collaboration between ESCWA and the committee. This reform represents a milestone in Lebanon’s labour and social protection framework, aiming to promote inclusive and equitable access to employment. It is particularly significant for advancing women’s economic participation, as flexible and family-friendly work arrangements can help reduce barriers that prevent women - especially those with caregiving responsibilities - from entering or remaining in the workforce. In order to ensure the effective implementation of the new law, ESCWA, UN Women, and the International Labour Organization (ILO) joined hands to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese Women and Children Parliamentary Committee to support its follow-up on the implementation of the law as part of the Parliament’s role in post-legislative scrutiny. The process entailed a legal study/advice to propose reforms and updates to the internal laws and regulations of the Lebanese National Social Security Fund (NSSF). These reforms and updates are necessary to allow for the implementation of Law No. 3/2025 without misuse of the new arrangements for fraudulent purposes, which, in turn, serves as a foundational input to guide the actuarial feasibility study leading to the full implementation of the labour law reform while also ensuring the benefits of this reform are utilized appropriately and fairly. These efforts must be aligned with the Labor Law and its implementing by-laws. Therefore, updates and reforms to the Ministry of Labor's by-laws are necessary to ensure the full and coherent implementation of the Labor Law reforms. Objective and methodology Against this backdrop, ESCWA, as it continues its technical support to ensure a full implementation of Law No. 3/2025, seeks to hire a consultant to undertake necessary research, advise and support the reform of the by-laws of the labour code in full alignment with the NSSF internal regulations. The consultant will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, the NSSF and the technical team working on the implementation of the law reform. Tasks and responsibilities The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: - Desk review: Conduct a revision of the Ministry of Labour relevant rules and internal regulations and by-laws in conjunction with those of the NSSF; - Ensure alignment of the internal regulations between the two entities; - Undertake consultations with involved stakeholders on the relevance and consequences of different options and alternatives to ensure the effective implementation of Flexible Work Arrangements including the required actuarial studies; - Suggest labour-law related by-laws for the Ministry of Labour, specifically in relation to flexible work arrangements; - Propose monitoring and evaluation procedures for the application of the amended labour law. The consultant is expected to provide regular updates on the work progress.

Qualifications/special skills

A master's degree in Lebanese law is required. All candidates must submit a copy of the required educational degree. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A minimum of 5 years of professional work experience in areas related to law reform and changes is required. Previous experience in working on labour law and/or social security laws is desirable. Previous experience in working on labor and social security laws in Lebanon is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat; and Arabic is a working language of ESCWA. For this position, fluency in Arabic is required. Knowledge of French and English is desirable. Note: “Fluency” equals a rating of ‘fluent’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of ‘confident’ in two of the four areas.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.

National legal consultant for drafting by-laws to implement the law on Flexible Work Arrangements in Lebanon