According to the Minister of Labor: The state is currently unable to implement anti-human trafficking laws

The Minister of Labor, Sejaan Azzi, presided yesterday over the meeting of the national steering committee with the presence of the ILO, CSOs and the syndicate of employment offices.  The meeting discussed the situation of migrant domestic workers in Lebanon.  Azzi reiterated his humanitarian and social concerns in relation to migrant women domestic workers and the need for their protection.  He also insisted that implementing anti-trafficking laws would require a functioning state which is not the case of Lebanon.  Azzi reminded international organisations and local CSOs to present an alternative to the sponsorship (kafala) system and noted that there is a mushrooming of employment offices many of which are ghost structures.  Azzi added that he asked the state council to present a decree to regulate the work of employment offices. (Al Mustakbal, 13 October 2015)