MWDW’s suffering forces them to flee and fall victim to human trafficking

In its issue of today, As Safir daily newspaper portrayed the unending suffering of migrant women domestic workers (MWDW) in Lebanon who are subjected to harsh work conditions and extremely low wages. This, As Safir noted, forces them to escape leaving behind their permits and passports while continuing to live in the country illegally. Speaking up to the newspaper, one Bangladeshi national said that her working day starts at 5 am and ends after midnight. This, she grieved, includes cleaning the houses of relatives of her employer and surviving on half a loaf of bread throughout the day. She pointed out to being regularly beaten by her employers which drove her to flee the house without her residency papers but to continue to support herself through other sources and send money to her family in Bangladesh. On the subject, As Safir interviewed activist and lawyer, Manar Zeaiter, who underlined the right of Bangladeshi MWDWs to challenge their improper and unacceptable working conditions and seek better income generating work. Zeaiter, on the other hand, stressed the right of the government and the labor ministry to regulate the status of foreign nationals working on Lebanese territory. The illegal residence of those workers, Zeaiter maintained, “will contribute to the emergence of a new exploitation system that will be run by human trafficking networks that will replace recruitment agencies.” She proposed a solution to the problem which starts from understanding and tackling the causes of escape of MWDWs in difficult situations, including the adjustment of relevant legislations. This, Zeaiiter sustained, begins with Lebanon’s commitment to international labor conventions that are based on the principles of justice, equality and humanitarian working conditions. “All outlawed MWDWs have experienced inappropriate living and working conditions, which should prompt us to readdress the present situation,” Zeaiter concluded. (As Safir, April 27, 2016)