“Intertwined: the workers’ side”

Lebanon is currently host to more than 170,000 migrant domestic workers (MDW) distributed across a number of African and Asian nationalities. Their work conditions have recently been the subject of a number of case studies, documentaries, and newspaper articles. However, most discussions lack a solid factual basis, due to the dearth of data on the subject. This survey, commissioned by the International Labour Organization (ILO), aims to enrich the debate on the rights of migrant workers in Lebanon by shedding light on various facets of the living and work conditions of MDWs in Lebanon.

Most of the research on MDWs in Lebanon has relied upon anecdotal evidence except for a statistical survey carried out in 2005 by the consultant to this survey. However, following the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon in July-August 2006, with tens of thousands being evacuated, and with bans and restrictions against Lebanon from the origin country governments such as Sri Lanka and the Philippines, the demographics of MDWs changed significantly. In addition, since 2006 there have been more human rights activity through grants to local NGOs for awareness-raising and advocacy campaigns. The aim of this survey was to draw a more contemporary picture of the conditions under which MDWs were recruited as well as the conditions of their employment, and their perceptions regarding those conditions.

English | August 4, 2016

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