News updates

Safir newspaper published a report about a MWDW from Bukina Faso who came to Lebanon to work as a domestic worker.  The MWDW in question is now held at the migrant workers’ center of detention in 3adlieh and is awaiting her repatriation because of her illegal situation due to the negligence of her employment office according to the law enforcement report.
The newspaper noted that the employment office located in the “posh” Verdun area brought the MWDW recently and then moved her to be employed by another household without arranging her papers and legal status..  She stayed in this situation for three months presumably during a trial period.  The new employer then returned her to the employment office that placed her again in a new household.  Despite its promises, the employment office did not arrange her official papers. She was thereafter arrested by the police based on information sent by a unknown source presumed to be the employment office itself and this according to the Safir newspaper. Following that, the employment office refused to assume any responsibility, despite the fact that it cashes USD 4,000 each time it places the young woman with a new employer.
Source: Al-Safir 12 August 2013

The Lebanese charity association for rehabilitation celebrated Eid al Fitr with the women detainees at the women prison in Qebbah - Tripoli.  The president of the association, Fatimah Badra visited the women prisoners and offered them Eid cookies and presents.  The visit was part of the association’s efforts to encourage women prisoners to engage in daily activities and to learn new skills in order to increase their moral and financial motivations and help them reintegrate society after serving their sentences.  Badra called for the reactivation of the sewing workshop available within the prison, through the provision of textile supplies and other sewing materials so as to teach women detainees, new skills that will enable them to secure a livelihood after they are released from prison.
Source: Al-Diyar 11 August 2013

The first round of Lebanon’s Award for Distinguished Women for 2012  was organised last week under the auspices of the Minister of Economy and Trade, Charbel Nahhas.  The event was held during a ceremony organised at the UNESCO Palace in Beirut in collaboration with the Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Lebanon.  The awards were distributed to the successful candidate after a review of reports about the 15 finalists.  The awardees included: the first business woman for 2013, engineer Rula Moussa and CEO of Netways and executive director of LARD Lebanese Association for Rural Development in addition to Balkees Ghalayini for the professionality category, Nadya Shaib for the leadership category, Omaya Mousharafieh for job accomplishments, Nada Alaa Al-Din for innovation, Najwa Chelala Khoury for strategic and financial planning and Souad Abou Chahine for social contributions.
Source: Al-Diyar 8 August 2013

The International Labor Organisation (ILO) and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) published a 60-page survival guide for migrant women domestic workers in Lebanon.  The aim of this publication is to fill an information gap affecting more than 200,000 migrant women domestic workers.  The guide is divided in four parts and includes information regarding the paperwork needed before travelling to Lebanon (visas, medical certificates, work permits, etc…), details of the contract and the sections that ought to be included in the document (e.g. free time allowed, dates of salary payments, etc…).  The guide also includes tips and practical information in case of conflicts related to work (such as for instance the expiration of work permit, problems with the employer, etc…) and an introduction to local customs and Lebanese traditions such as cooking and religious practices.  Furthermore, the guide comprises a simple thesaurus (English to and from Lebanese Arabic dialect) and practical information regarding money transfers. Finally, the guide is available only in 2 languages English and Arabic, in addition to an audio format for illiterate users.

Source: L’Orient Le Jour 7 August 2013

To download the full guide please click here

For other material, please visit the following link: http://www.mdwguide.com/Default.aspx

L’Orient Le Jour published a report today about a number of professions common amongst women but which, despite their humble nature, seem to provide a regular and solid income.  The article uses three examples the first of which is that of an old woman who specializes in cooking.  She caters for many clients and earns circa USD 800 a month.  She has no social security and no coverage of any sorts, however, she maintains that her income allows her to cover all her basic needs whilst cooking for her is an intuitive pleasure.  The report also shows the case of a free lancing migrant domestic worker whose earnings reach USD 1000 per month out of which she has to pay for rent and transport and she also sends money to her son in Sri Lanka.  She is unable to make any savings but wishes to continue to be able to secure her livelihood in this way as long as her health allows her to.  Another testimonial comes from a beautician who was formerly trained as a child care worker.  She left her first profession which was poorly paid, then she worked as a beautician in a beauty parlor, but working hours were long and earnings modest.  At the moment, she works on her own and visits her clients at home.  She earns some USD 3,000 a month.  However, and although she still has to pay for the products she uses as well as for transportation costs and cannot benefit from social security coverage or access a bank loan, she is still happy to be able to work on her own and cover her bills.
Source: L’Orient Le Jour 7 August 2013

Al Akhbar newspaper published a report today about a court order issued by Nader Mansour the Penal judge who ruled in favour of the plaintiff, W.S. from Sri Lanka.  The Judge ordered that her former employer, W.K., serves a two months prison sentence as well as pay a penalty of LBP 500,000 in addition to paying her former employee her due salary of 3750 USD.  The plaintiff, who sued her employer with the support of Kafa: Enough Violence and Exploitation, was also granted an amount of 1 billion and 500 thousand LBP for compensation.
Kafa had taken this case to court against the employer who had withheld her employee’s salary for three years.  Kafa’s lawyer, Mohana Isaac, noted that Kafa tried to negotiate with W.k. to reach a settlement but the latter refused to bulge thus prompting Kafa to take the case to court.  Lawyer Isaac notes that this verdict is unprecedented as it was addressed through the criminal courts whereas issues related to salaries are normally addressed through the civil courts.  The presiding judget however considered that the case is indeed a criminal offense according to 671 of the criminal code.
The verdict was pronounced in absentia as the defendant had changed both her phone number and her place of residence since the issue was taken to court by the end of 2010.
Source: Al-Akhbar 7 August 2013
 

The President of the Union of Fay7a2 Municipalities in Tripoli, Mr. Nader Al-ghazal, inaugurated an exhibition entitled "Ramadan Brings Us Together" at the Abdullah Ghandour hall of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in the North.  The event was attended by the Chamber's Treasurer, Mr.Toufic al Dabbousi, the representative of the Turkish Ambassador to Lebanon and of a number of women and civil society organisations, cultural organisations and scouts associations.
Dabbousi emphasized in his key note address  the efforts extended by participating organisations in promoting traditional handcrafts noting that such activities are part of the public and social interests of the Chamber of Tripoli and the North which seeks through its various programmes to support and encourage micro and small enterprises especially those set up and run by women
At the end of the opening ceremony, Dabbousi and Ghazal also offered prizes to three pioneering women, in appreciation of their achievements in municipal, banking and civil action namely: Leila Chahhoud Tichouri, Maha Mokaddam, Yolande Al-Rassi.
Source: Al-Mustaqbal 5 August 2013
 

The women committee of the Women Academy affiliated to the Safadi Foundation in Kobeh area of Tripoli organised a number of small activities within the framework of its women empowerment programme.  In collaboration with the “hoop and thread” workshop, women academy implemented an activity called the Ramadan Pudding which targeted 165 persons from the Dahr el Mgharr area.  In addition, the committee launched a training course in simple and basic sewing techniques targeting 21 women, and organised a celebration at the Academy's venue which grouped 60 children and 40 women and that within the framework of the “Neighborhood Feast” activity which included the distribution of various food items.
Source: Al-Diyar, Al-Mustaqbal 4 August 2013

As Safir newspaper published a report on a number of migrant women domestic workers who are working with the support of the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers and Employees in Lebanon to set up their own Union so as to represent MWDW and to protect their interests.  The report highlights a number of testimonials from human rights and worker rights activists who provide details about the plight of MWDW as well as their relations with organizations that support their rights, with their respective churches and embassies.
It is to be noted that the number of MWDW in Lebanon is estimated anywhere between 150 and 200,000workers out of a total workforce of 1.45 million people according to ILO.  This category of workers remains excluded from the provisions of the labor law according to its 7th clause, while the Ministry of Labor requires MWDW to obtain work permits.  As such, MWDW do not enjoy benefits such as minimum wage, maximum working hours and paid leave and are forbidden from their right to engage in trade union work.
The report notes that despite all the efforts extended by the General Security, relevant embassies, international and local organizations as well as churches, MWDW remain unable to defend their own rights and interests.  However, a number of MWDW such as Susanna from Nepal have set up a women group known as NARI (Group of Nepalese Feminists in Lebanon) with the support of Kafa.  Libbie from Bangladesh in order to come with solutions to the similar problems they face and have come to realize that a union would serve their interests best.
The president of the National Federation of Trade Unions of Workers and Employees in Lebanon, Castro Abdullah, indicated that the idea to mainstream the concerns of migrant workers through encouraging them to organize and represent themselves, started during the mobilization for the review of the salary scales.  He indicated that there is no difference between one worker and the other.  He emphasized the importance for MWDW to organise and demand legal protection, through networking with unions in their own countries and lobbying their respective governments to conclude bilateral agreement which will regulate the norms and standards of employments and the work of employment agencies.  
Abdullah noted that the new trade union will be open to Lebanese and non-Lebanon workers as experience has shown that there is indeed a category of vulnerable Lebanese workers who needs to be included in that category.  He confirmed that Lebanese law allows non-Lebanese to become union members on condition that they do not vote or get elected in governance bodies
The newspaper report also pointed out to the findings of a ILO study conducted in 2012 which revealed that there are some 18 NGOs in Lebanon who are active in working with MWDW focusing on different areas and within adopting a mainly service provision/welfare approach. These organisations are involved in the provision of temporary shelters, medical and legal aid to victims of violence.  Four of these organisations are more engaged in advocacy focusing mainly on violence but not addressing issues related to abuses in employment practices.  According to the aforementioned ILO study, capacity building provided by some NGOs does not address support the capacity to organize and work collectively.
Rahel, a migrant woman from Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of communication amongst MWDW across nationalities especially since churches and embassies only allow communication amongst migrant from the same nationality for fear of losing control.
Source: Al-Safir, Al-Safir 2 August 2013