The changes proposed to the contract for the employment of domestic workers are not revolutionary but rather only a first step toward the dismantling of the kafala system. They will benefit Lebanese by providing clear regulations on how to employ domestic workers when they need support with household or care work. And they benefit migrant workers who come to Lebanon with the primary goal of supporting their families back home.
Regulating domestic work and ensuring that workers are treated with dignity will destigmatize this kind of work. A new contract that stipulates rights and obligations of both worker and employer, and that is enforced effectively by the government, therefore provides the foundation for a more just domestic work system that is beneficial for everyone in Lebanon.