The Kafala labour system criticised for being harmful and exploitative, continues to thrive in Lebanon, Jordan, and Gulf states despite UN recommendations to replace it. Vulnerable migrant workers are often hidden and their rights disregarded in this system: The Guardian.
Female domestic workers often find themselves excluded from labor protection laws, working in private homes and heavily dependent on their employers.
This dependency creates vulnerable conditions where exploitation and abuse are prevalent, as highlighted in a recent report by The Guardian in an investigation carried out over two years covering 50 women.
The testimonies of these women reveal alarming realities: seven-day workweeks, confiscated passports, violence, sexual abuse, and hefty recruitment fees just to secure employment. These indicators point to human trafficking, a grave violation of human rights condemned by the UN.
Under kafala laws, domestic workers are particularly vulnerable, facing abuse within their employers’ homes and criminal repercussions if they attempt to leave. Experts emphasise that these conditions constitute forced labour and domestic servitude, underscoring urgent calls for international human rights and labour standards to be upheld.
The voices of these women speak volumes about the urgent need for action and protection. Their stories highlight the ongoing struggle faced by female domestic workers worldwide and the imperative to address systemic exploitation and abuse in private households.
