Domestic workers, who lack any protections under the law and have virtually no access to judicial redress, have also suffered severe consequences. Many domestic workers have reported that their employers slashed their salaries—if they paid them at all. But even the more fortunate workers who are still receiving their salaries in full have seen their money’s value decrease by almost a third as the Lebanese lira depreciates. A worker who used to earn LL300,000 per month could transfer $200 to her family abroad. Now, the same salary can get her as little as $120 at the unofficial exchange rate, which fluctuates day to day at the sarraf (exchange shop). Projections indicate that the lira may depreciate even further.
Making matters worse, even though some migrant workers stand to effectively lose out on half of their pay or more, they cannot readily leave their employers or advocate for better pay or conditions. Their presence is regulated under a kafala (sponsorship) system—which former Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman likened to “modern-day slavery”—under which they cannot leave or change jobs without their employer’s consent. Giving employers this level of control over workers’ lives has led to an array of abuses that Human Rights Watch has been documenting for years, including non-payment of wages, forced confinement, no time off, and verbal, physical, and sexual abuse.
In December, the Philippines embassy in Lebanon said that more than 1,000 Filipino workers who “have recently lost jobs and income opportunities” registered for their free repatriation program. At the time of writing, no other embassy has offered similar services to its nationals in Lebanon.
By Aya Jazoub, Human Rights Watch
Racism and colorism are way too normalized in the middle east, and no matter how much lebanese love to claim that they have a modernized mindset, the segregation is undeniable.
Nobody wants to admit that their ideologies are outdated and actions hateful. Our system should be updated, and by that I mean completely modified. Migrants and immigrants should be given equal rights and opportunities. Decensy shouldn't be too much to ask for. They shouldn't be begging for healthcare, food and salaries, all of those things should be guaranteed.
I'll put some links where you can further educate yourself and donate to help out, please if you can, it'd truly make a difference.
Thanks in advance.
https://thisislebanon.info/donate/
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/03/06/life-lebanons-migrant-domestic-workers-worsens-amid-crisis
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/27/lebanon-abolish-kafala-sponsorship-system
https://givebutter.com/send-us-home-repatriation-domestic-workers-from-lebanon
https://www.infomigrants.net/en/post/25714/lebanon-s-migrant-domestic-workers-suffer-amid-economic-crisis
https://www.armlebanon.org/abolish-kafala
https://www.givingloop.org/mcc/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/food-and-medicine-for-kafala-victims-in-lebanon
