Migrant Women Domestic Workers in Lebanon celebrate Workers’ Day and call for an end to exploitation

In  the fourth annual celebration of workers’ day, the founding committee of the MWDW syndicate organized in collaboration with Kafa, Amel, Insaan, Caritas and the anti-racist group a three day activity from 2 to 4 May inclusive, and  calling for the legal protection of MWDW in Lebanon.  The event aimed at achieving social and legal recognition of domestic work as real work which merit protection as well as the abolishing of the sponsorship (Kafalat) system.

On the first day activities included the launch of a booklet entitled “if it wasn’t for the sponsorship system” which comprised stories by MWDW.  The book was collected from testimonials presented at the Monnot theater in Achrafieh where 5 MWDW of various nationalities shared their stories or stories of friends who were not able to come themselves either because of their difficult legal conditions or simply because they were not able to leave home.  The event also included lectures by lawyer Roland Tawk who spoke about the problems associated with the Sponsorship system.  Tawk compared this system with the regular employment mechanism and went through the minute details of recruitment costs, work contract, hours of work, remuneration, entitlements for holidays, and communication with others.  The second speech was by Myrtle Witbooi the president of the International Domestic Workers Federation, herself a former domestic worker who stressed the importance that MWDW lead their own struggles and the need for solidarity amongst them and with civil society.

The second day included cultural and social events gathering MWDW in a Hamra parking lot where participants showcased products from their countries including fabric, clothing, jewelry, music, food and others, while the third witnessed a march which started from Dora and ended in Mar Mikhael.  Marchers held banners with slogans depicting their ordeals and asking for their legal right.  Reaction varied as many chose to show their racism and their shock that MWDW should go out on the streets whilst many activists joined the MWDW in their march.  The end of the event was dedicated to the remembrance of MWDW who died in Lebanon and those who were not able to participate because their employers do not allow them to go out.  MWDW asked for abolishing and replacing the sponsorship system by another that is based on a fair work relation that respects human rights.  Participants also asked for their rights to sever work contracts as well as to well defined working hours, rest hours, holidays and sick leave and for appropriate investigation of cases of abuse and suicide.
Source: Al-Akhbar, Al-Safir, Al-Nahar, Al-Safir 5 May 2014