Persisting violation of MWDW rights with “Kafala” and despite the work of associations

On the World Day of Migrant Women and Men Workers which falls on June 16 of every year, As Safir daily addressed in a special feature the status of these workers and the continuous violation of their rights. Reportedly, some 250 thousand Migrant Women Domestic Workers (MWDW) of different nationalities, together with thousands of male workers, are still deprived of the basic rights that preserve their human dignity. It should be noted, that Lebanon has not signed or ratified, but only voted in favor of the ILO Convention 189 issued on June 16, 2011, which stipulates that this category of workers should enjoy a decent working environment. The sponsorship “Kafala” system is still operational despite repeated demands to revoke or replace it with a fairer and more just contractual arrangement. As Safir maintained that despite extensive efforts by civil society groups to improve the living and working conditions of MWDWs, progress still lags behind compared to what needs to be done. In this context, Caritas Lebanon-Migrant Center and the Syndicate of the Owners of the Female Housemaid Employment Agencies signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding which seeks to “observe a maximum degree of respect for the human rights and the protection of foreign workers and prevent any violation of those rights.” The MoU contains 15 articles under which Caritas pledges to hold awareness raising workshops for domestic workers and staff of employment agencies on the rights and responsibilities of both parties. It also provides for helping human trafficking victims in return for commitment by the above Syndicate to give foreign workers their rights and treat them properly. According to Al Akhbar newspaper, the MWDW Union has been totally disregarded, particularly that the parties to the MoU share the Labor Minister’s view which objects to the formation of what it terms as an “illegal” Union. In the same vein, the Insaf Center for Migrant Domestic Workers has laid its foundation stone in Dora east of Beirut under the management of Indian domestic worker, Sara, and Lebanese activist, Lina. The center is designed to provide various services, including guidance, language courses, legal consultation and social activities. In his visit to the new center, the British Ambassador to Leabon Hugo shorter, met a number of MWDWs, underlining their need for respect and rest and their right in living in a safe environment. Similarly, Kafa Enough Violence organization installed a candid camera inside one of the hyper markets to promote a brand of soap that supposedly “cleans up the domestic worker”. The camera will record the different reactions of the people towards the promotion. (As Safir, Al Diyar, June 16, 2016)