Conference to evaluate and reform the role of MWDW employment agencies in Lebanon

Minister of Labor Sejaan Azzi convened some 640 employment offices in a conference to discuss the situation of migrant women domestic workers (MWDW) and the role of employment offices.  The event was held in Beirut yesterday to discuss the situation of employment offices in depth notably looking at their mushrooming and their unregulated work which tantamount to trafficking human beings.  Azzi noted that his Ministry is launching a study to asses the need for migrant women domestic workers and to compare with the number of operating employments offices.  He added that the results of the study will provide information to be used regarding any decision to be made concerning the fate of some of the employment offices.  The conference included an intervention of the head of the Beirut directorate, Marlene Atallah, and the director of the control services, Jumana H7aymur and the director of the Mount Lebanon directorate Imane Khazaal.  Khazaal noted that the Ministry has started to evaluate the situation of employment offices and is working towards developing a comprehensive system in this field.  The conference also included a discussion with owners of employment offices around the issue of quota, and cases of migrant women domestic workers who flee their employers and work illegally on their own.
Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Nahar 27 November 2014