Legal case filed against employer on behalf of domestic worker [here] and [here]

Legal Action Worldwide filed the first legal case against a Lebanese employer on behalf of an Ethiopian domestic worker on charges of slavery, slave trading and torture. The case includes a demand to find the recruitment agency guilty as well, besides the employer.

The worker, who is now back in Ethiopia, had been locked up in an apartment for 7 years until end of 2019 without being paid.

Health Center for Migrant Workers to Open Soon [here]

Director of Rafic Hariri hospital Dr. Firas Abiad announced on Twitter the opening of a new health center dedicated to migrant workers next month in collaboration with Doctors Without Borders (MSF).

29 Million Girls and Women Victims of Modern Slavery [here] 

A report on modern slavery by WalkFree organization found that a conservative estimate of 29 million women and girls around the world are victims of modern slavery. The organziation, along witht he UN’S Every Woman Every Child program, will launch a campaign to end legalized systems of modern slavery including abolishing Kafala.

Deadline to settle expired permits extended [here] 

The General Directorate of General Security announced that the deadline to submit requests to settle expired residency permits until December 31, 2020.

Report on situation of migrant workers by Reuters [here]

An article by Reuters included testimonies of migrant domestic workers who have been subjected to abuse and mistreatment by employers under the Kafala system in Lebanon. It also reported that 10,000 migrant domestic workers submitted requests to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to be evacuated to their countries after employers stopped paying their salaries. In addition, 50% of migrant workers interviewed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) were no longer able to afford rent, and 34% borrow money for basic necessities.

Migrant workers denied entry to Bain Militaire’s restaurant [here]

An ethiopian domestic worker was forbidden from entering the restaurant of the military Bath on October 6 with her employer. The reason they were told is that domestic workers are not allowed to eat at the restaurant with the guests.

Caretaker MoL visit Tripoli and addresses non-Lebanese workers [here]

Caretaker Minister of Labor (MoL) Lamia Yammine visited Tripoli on October 8 and met the Governor of the North, who addressed the problem of “Syrian workers taking away jobs from Lebanese workers” and asked the minister to follow up on and resolve this issue. Yammine in turn emphasized the ministry’s role in protecting Lebanese workers.