Executive summary

This report explores the organized nature of child labor within the trash scavenging industry in Al-Hasakeh, northeast Syria, from 2021 to 2024. The economic downturn in the region, marked by significant inflation and the rapid devaluation of the Syrian pound (SYP), has forced many families to rely on their children for income. In that time, child garbage collection has become increasingly systematized, evolving from a last-resort survival strategy into a structured and competitive industry.

CA–SYR’s research into trash scavenging reveals a significant increase in the number of garbage collection centers between 2021 and 2024. These centers now employ entire families, with children working long hours under the supervision of contractors. Contractors have seized on the opportunity to organize the children’s labor, transporting them to work, managing their shifts, and converting scavenging into a formalized and lucrative industry. Economic hardship, lack employment opportunities for adults, and diminished public services are major drivers of this trend. Displacement and the deteriorating security situation in the region have further increased children’s vulnerability to exploitation and drawn them into hazardous work environments. This report also underscores the weak legal protections and lack of robust enforcement that have allowed child labor to proliferate.

Finally, the report highlights several policy implications and recommendations for local authorities, humanitarian actors, and donors seeking to address this issue. It emphasizes the need for economic stabilization to remove the necessity of child labor, strengthened legal frameworks and mechanisms to protect children from exploitation, and improved education and public services to support vulnerable families. By drawing attention to these root causes, the report aims to safeguard children's rights and mitigate their exploitation in hazardous labor sectors.