Migrant Domestic Workers rights and duties are excluded from the Lebanese labor law, the system applied is the sponsorship system (known as Kafala System). Kafala is an oppressive system that controls migrant workers, most of them being women. It requires each worker to be sponsored by a citizen of the country. That employer, also known as a kafeel, is responsible for the worker’s legal status and visa. When the worker’s term finalizes, the employer can either renew it or terminate the worker’s status, which necessitates the immediate deport of the worker. Most of them have their passport confiscated by their employer, have unlimited working hours, don’t have a private room…and are subject to abuse, without any support because of the discrimination. When the economic crisis raised in Lebanon many employers couldn’t afford to pay for their helper in dollars so they left them in the streets, or at the door of their embassies, but unfortunately the embassies couldn’t help them a lot, so many of became were homeless.

Since Fingerprint of Change aims at supporting women, we designed a program to help the migrant workers who are from different nationalities. We provide them with community support, in partnership with Egna-Legna association. The program started in started 2020, during which we targeted more than 200 women. The program included food and clothes distribution and help with their legal papers with the general security forces, for those who traveled back to their country. We accompanied them at the airport until they reached the airplane gate.

We support migrant domestic workers with immigrated-related matters starting from providing their necessary documents from the relevant General security offices and taking it to the airport, to covering payment for PCR tests, and covering General security payments, in addition other required payments.

Many workers were in the prison, because of complaints, most of which are unfounded, or because of the expiration of work papers or residency permits. We were a liaison with government focal points and officials at the prison and with general directorate for general security. We provided momentary shelters, we targeted inmate workers, and we focused on sick and single women, with what they need for basic care and feminine kits, also we helped put them in contact with lawyers for those sent to prison for theft accusation without real evidence and proper investigation. We visited the prison and conducted information, and provided food and tickets when needed.

Some migrant domestic workers were trapped in the country after being fired due to the intensified economic crisis.

Many of these workers were protected, and those who wanted to leave Lebanon were sent back to their homelands.