The "sponsorship" system encourages crime and the Lebanese General Security unmoved by the plight of migrant women domestic workers

Al Akhbar published a report about the ways in which General Security deals with the so-called “suicide attempts" by migrant women domestic workers.  The newspaper noted that the GS has a tendency to close the file as soon as death is pronounced and referred to the case of Tegitis Tamar who now lies in the Qarantina hospital as a result of a serious back break which ensued from a failed suicide attempt.  Tegitis still remains in the hospital, and although the hospital has informed the GS twice about this case, the latter has yet to investigate the case after having realised that the victim is an Ethiopian national.
Mohana Isaac, a lawyer working with Kafa association, noted in her interview with Al Akhbar that Kafa has lodged a legal complaint concerning Tegitis case based on a legal close which states that "all those who have instigated suicide shall be punished".  She adds that the “Kafala” sponsorship system which is often believed to be the underlying cause of suicide, in fact overpowers the law, and a glaring proof of that is that no sponsor has ever been jailed for the death of a migrant women worker.
Legal exert Nizar Saghieh noted that this legal case is unprecedented, while stressing the key role that the Ministry of Labour should play in pursuing appropriate action vis-à-vis employers.  Saghieh also referred to the need for the Ministry of Labor to adopt a "blacklist" based on which it can take the appropriate measures such as forbidding certain recruitment offices from brining in other migrant workers in case they are found guilty of crimes and misdemeanor.
Source: Al-Akhbar 19 October 2013