Following the sit-in staged by Ethiopian migrant domestic workers protesting their consulate’s decision forcing them to the quarantine charges (https://bit.ly/370djss), the ministry of labor disclosed in a statement yesterday that, in compliance with an initiative by labor minister, the prime minister and the minister of tourism, the Ethiopian workers, numbering 35, have been transferred to a hotel in Ain Mreiseh, Beirut in the presence of the Ethiopian consul. Recalling, that among the protestors are freelance daily workers or those sacked by their employers. The ministry revealed that it has provided the PCR tests for the workers yesterday morning before their transfer from the assigned hotel to Caritas, saying an investigation is underway to explain what happened. And, that in the event of violations on part of employers, the ministry will take the matter to the courts. The labor ministry also demanded the concerned embassies, associations or international organizations as well as the General Security to share responsibility, noting that the issue is complicated and has many contributing factors. Some of the workers are illegal and are entitled to settle their status before departure, while others voluntarily want to leave the country. Also, there are employers who plan to deport MWDWs in their employ due to the dire economic and financial circumstances, and are, to this effect, willing to pay the cost of travel. The ministry stressed that the current hitch is not the responsibility of the Lebanese government alone, but also that of the labor-sending countries, namely, Ethiopia. (Al Diyar, June 5, 2020)