Migrant Workers’ Action has submitted an Input to the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, after a call for submissions by civil society to discuss trafficking of MDWs as well as the prevention, rights protection and access to justice. The Kafala system is enabling trafficking and, with it, modern-day slavery in Lebanon. Download our briefing to learn more about the issue and read our elaboration based on previous research reports.

Forced labour is considered any kind of work performed involuntarily and under the menace of punishment. It refers to situations of individuals being coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or more subtle measures such as manipulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities.

Source: International Labour Organisation

In Lebanon, Migrant Domestic Workers trapped under the Kafala system are not covered under the protection of the Lebanese Labour Law. The majority of MDWs work under extreme circumstances including long hours and without any adequate rest or safe work conditions. MDWs who have addressed these issues with their employers have reported suffering from physical violence or threats of legal action such as cancellation of residency papers if they do not continue working. During the past three years, it has been observed that with the financial crisis in Lebanon, more employers have delayed or failed to pay the workers their owed salaries.