Migrant Workers, Labor Rights, and Governance in Middle Income Countries: The Case of Migrant Domestic Workers in Lebanon

Class Interest and the Kafala System in Lebanon. (c2020)

“…to undertake a Standard Unified contract that is drafted between the employer of labor and the domestic worker (Sater, 2013). This Unified contract was drawn up by the ministry of labor and contains the right of the worker.…”

“…As such, the vulnerability of the workers is instinctively legitimized denying them legal reprieve where their rights are concerned. As Sater (2013) observes, the Unified contract stipulates that the domestic worker should have the right to at least 24 hours of rest within the week, and this rest period must be discussed and decided amongst the employer and the worker. Additionally, it adds that the domestic worker has a right to work 10 straight hours with numerous breaks and can also work 8 straight hours with breaks at night.…”

“…Essentially, the domestic worker has no choice but to conform to whatever chores and treatment they receive from their sponsor. It must be stated that the sponsor also takes on the responsibility of paying the insurance of the migrant domestic worker before the three-month grace period elapses (Sater, 2013). The prospect of a challenging experience, cast against the hope for better opportunities draws an enquiry of the legality of the recruitment system.…”

“…Migrant workers must be allowed to leave employers for justifiable reasons rather than enduring abusive conditions or thinking of escaping (Damir-Geilsdorf & Pelican, 2018). Secondly, in formulating labor rights policies the rights of the domestic worker must be included in the policing-making process (Sater, 2013). Finally, after favorable reforms have been enacted there must be a conscious effort to strengthen the implementation of labor laws, background monitoring, checks and balance, and unbiased dispute settlements.…”