29/04/2021
Lebanon’s financial crisis worsens exploitation of domestic workers - FreedomUnited.org
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imbalance in favor of employers, migrant domestic
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their wages withheld.
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standard for domestic
about 2 to
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Lebanon is currently one of the top two countries in the Middle East employing
foreign domestic workers due in part to stigma attached to the profession. Around
5.6M
250,000
foreign domestic workers work there, according to Human Rights Watch.
Most
have found the work lucrative – before the financial crisis. Now, as the
30K
currency has crashed, they are not making enough money to send home and many
are leaving.
4.7K
Others, Ethiopian domestic workers in particular, have been dumped outside their
5.7K
embassies
by their employers without their owed wages and no money to buy a
ticket home.
Al Jazeera reports the experience of one Bangladeshi domestic worker, Sabrina,
“Before the economy collapsed, I used to earn $5 for an hour at the rate of 1,500
pounds to the dollar. In a four-hour shift, I earned 30,000 pounds but $20. Now I
get paid 60,000 pounds for the shift but that is only $5-6.”
The exit of migrant domestic workers has been branded an “opportunity” by
Lebanon’s former minister of labor. Camille Abousleiman said, “It can also be a
chance for the Lebanese to take these jobs. The transformation in mindset might
take time but if dignity is restored to these jobs then it might happen.”
Around the world, there are at least 67.1 million domestic workers – millions of
them children. According to the International Labour Organisation
(https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_protect/---protrav/--migrant/documents/briefingnote/wcms_490162.pdf) (ILO), women make up 81% of
national domestic workers and 73% of migrant domestic workers.
all domestic workers worked
in one country, this country
would be the tenth
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largest
employer worldwide. domestic workers&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.freedomunited.o
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https://www.freedomunited.org/news/lebanons-financial-crisis-worsens-exploitation-domestic-workers/?fbclid=IwAR3gbIQalmcV1jdfb8aOE7Ea1Cf… 2/7