We opened up 2024 with disturbing stories of racism against migrant workers in Lebanon. From underreported murders to exploitative labor practices and biased media narratives, this report sheds light on the systemic marginalization, dehumanization, and violations that migrant communities face in the country.
Migrant deaths in Lebanon are often hidden behind incomplete reporting or blocked investigations. Thus, seeking justice becomes a struggle.
The Ministry of Labor is set to release an amended version of the Standard Unified Contract (SUC) which, in theory, intends to regulate the working relationship between migrant domestic workers and their sponsors (employers). However, the contract is only one piece of the Kafala system and, due to lack of any enforcement mechanism, it is arguably the least important piece.
More than 100 migrant workers of different nationalities have been abandoned by their employers or showed up at their consulate since the beginning of June 2020. The majority of these workers are Ethiopian due to the size of the Ethiopian community in Lebanon. The Ethiopian consulate failed to intervene and closed its doors to its own citizens.
Today we went to Dar El-Ajaza Hospital. We met with 3 women, 2 from Ethiopia and a third who is perhaps from Ghana.
إن لم تختر بعد هديَّة لأمِّك بمناسبة عيد الأم، توقَّف عن البحث… فالحلُّ موجود عند السيِّدة ندى !الست ندى، هي سيِّدة Lebanon “مجتمع راقٍ”
Very important interview with Legal Agenda and ‘minister of labour’ Sejaan Azzi.
Full link here.
Azzi said the traffickers give Lebanon “a bad reputation by making it seem like a prostitution or human trafficking hub.”
Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi Wednesday rejected the notion that all foreign housemaids in Lebanon are poorly treated, criticizing countries that have banned their women from working in Lebanon and accusing embassy workers of human trafficking.