By The Daily Star - Wednesday, June 16, 2010
BEIRUT: Labor Minister Boutros Harb stressed the need to modernize labor laws, during the 99th International Labor Conference in Geneva on Tuesday. Harb presided over the Lebanese delegation at the conference and gave a speech, in which he confirmed Lebanon’s need to modernize its labor laws and announced he signed a draft for a new labor law last week. “The new law will be in accordance with agreements and treaties Lebanon signed with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Arab Labor Organization,” he said. Harb explained that the draft law tackled issues such as child labor, gender discrimination, rights of the disabled, safety measures at work, health services, limiting work hours, fair wages, indemnities, and domestic workers.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
إدانة لبنانية لضربها مخدومتها
English version
أصدر القاضي جان طنوس المكلف الدعاوى الجزائية في مدينة جبيل (شمال بيروت)، حكما بحبس ربة منزل ج.س (1969) لمدة شهر وتغريمها مبلغ عشرة ملايين ليرة لبنانية، لمصلحة عاملتها السريلانكية «سامانتي وارناكولا سورييا» (مواليد 1983)، بعدما أدانها بتهمة ضرب الخادمة. كما حكم طنوس «بمنع المدعى عليها من الدخول طرفا في عقد عامل أو عاملة في الخدمة المنزلية بصفة رب عمل أو كفيل لمدة خمس سنوات». وأوضح أن سامانتي تعرضت للضرب وسوء المعاملة خلال فترة عملها لدى المدعى عليها بين كانون الأول 2004 وأيار2007، إضافة إلى منعها من الخروج من المنزل، مما دفع العاملة إلى اللجوء إلى سفارة بلادها، التي أرسلتها إلى جمعية كاريتاس الخيرية حيث عاينها طبيب شرعي واتضح أنها «مصابة بخدوش وجروح وكدمات ورضوض في كل أنحاء جسمها، منها ما هو حديث، ومنها ما يعود إلى أشهر عدة».
(أ. ف. ب)
(أ. ف. ب)
Lebanese housewife jailed for abusing maid
BEIRUT — A Lebanese woman was sentenced to one month in jail for mistreating her Sri Lankan housemaid, court papers showed on Friday, a rare happening in a country where rights groups regularly denounce the ill-treatment of foreign domestic helpers.
The 41-year-old housewife was sentenced to jail and fined 6,600 dollars for "having struck" and "seriously mistreated" her home helper in the northern city of Byblos, according to court records seen by AFP.
She was also banned from employing domestic staff for up to five years.
The victim suffered blows and
The 41-year-old housewife was sentenced to jail and fined 6,600 dollars for "having struck" and "seriously mistreated" her home helper in the northern city of Byblos, according to court records seen by AFP.
She was also banned from employing domestic staff for up to five years.
The victim suffered blows and
Friday, June 25, 2010
خالد صاغية: حادث فردي
جريدة الأخبار - عدد الجمعة ٢٥ حزيران ٢٠١٠
حادث فردي
خالد صاغيةتتكاثر الأحداث الفرديّة في لبنان. تتكاثر لدرجة أنّه إذا جُمع عددُ الأفراد المسؤولين عن هذه الأحداث الفردية، فسنحصل على مجموع يفوق عدد أفراد الشعب اللبناني.
فإن رمت عاملة سريلانكية نفسها من الشرفة، تكون الحادثة فردية. وإن وُجد عامل سوريّ مطعوناً، تكون الحادثة فرديّة. وإن عُلِّقت لافتة تعلن تقديم مريول مجاني مع كل «خادمة» جديدة، عُدّ ذلك خطأً فردياً...
آخر تلك الحوادث الفردية حصل في منطقة الأوزاعي. القصّة باتت معروفة. دهمت قوّة من الأمن العام صالة يقيم فيها مواطنون سودانيّون حفلاً خيرياً، فتحوّل الحفل إلى كرنفال امتزجت فيه الفحولة بالعنصريّة.
الحادثة، على فظاعتها، كان يمكنها أن تمرّ مرور الكرام. لكنّ تحرّك الشعب السوداني داخل بلاده تضامناً مع مواطنيه، وتضافُر أسباب سياسية واقتصادية، وضعا الحكومة اللبنانية وأطرافاً سياسية عديدة في وضع المجبَر على إدانة الحادثة. ونقول «المجبَر» لأنّ هذه الأطراف عينها لم تحرّك ساكناً لممارسات مشابهة كثيرة.
وزير الخارجية علي الشامي رأى أن الحادثة «فردية». السفير السوداني في لبنان إدريس سليمان أراد بدوره أن يكون مهذّباً، فساير المسؤولين اللبنانيين، ورأى أنّ «الحادثة فردية ولا يمكن أن تعبّر عن حقيقة المشاعر التي يكنّها اللبنانيون تجاه إخوانهم السودانيّين».
لكنّ الجميع يعرفون أنّ الحقيقة في مكان آخر، وأنّ الحادثة ليست فرديّة مع الأسف، وهي تعكس حقيقة المشاعر التي يكنّها لبنانيّون تجاه إخوانهم السودانيّين. العناصر الذين كلّفوا تنفيذ المهمّة مسؤولون طبعاً عن عملهم المشين. لكنّ هؤلاء العناصر والمسؤولين عنهم عكسوا ثقافة المؤسسات الأمنية في هذه البلاد، لا بل عكسوا الثقافة السائدة في المجتمع ككلّ. فبعيداً من تبادل اللياقات الاجتماعية، وبعيداً ممّا نُقل عن رئيس الحكومة سعد الحريري بعد جلسة مجلس الوزراء الأخيرة، يعرف الجميع أنّنا نعيش في بلاد يرتفع فيها «دوز» العنصريّة في ظلّ إصرار عنيد على عدم وضع أيّ قانون يجرّمها.
السفير اللبناني في السودان، أحمد شمّاط، قرّر أن «يلعبها لبنانيّةً» حتّى النهاية. استنكر الحادثة، لكنّه طالب السودان بالاعتذار من الشعب اللبناني، إذ رأى أنّ شعارات المتظاهرين السودانيين «إهانة للدولة والشعب اللبنانيّين»!
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Inside info on Kafa's conference
Yesterday Kafa and the Danish Refugee Council launched their small research report entitled "Servant, daughter or employee?". It is a pilot study on the attitudes of lebanese employers towards migrant domestic workers.
For press coverage in Arabic
For press coverage in English
There were a lot of attendees. The representative of the minister of labor's words were unimpressive. (He was not quoted in the Daily Star, while he was quoted in Al-Akhbar saying that this issue was a priority to the ministry.)
There were a few migrant workers present. On the conference agenda was scheduled a talk by a migrant domestic workers, but she did not show up.
It is worth noting that Kafa's first issue of their MDW newsletter is really good. It includes the standard contract, raises issues at stake and negative issues in the contract, and includes important contact info. It is out in several languages in addition to English and Arabic.
Coverage and photos by Farah from http://www.nasawiya.org/
For press coverage in Arabic
For press coverage in English
There were a lot of attendees. The representative of the minister of labor's words were unimpressive. (He was not quoted in the Daily Star, while he was quoted in Al-Akhbar saying that this issue was a priority to the ministry.)
There were a few migrant workers present. On the conference agenda was scheduled a talk by a migrant domestic workers, but she did not show up.
It is worth noting that Kafa's first issue of their MDW newsletter is really good. It includes the standard contract, raises issues at stake and negative issues in the contract, and includes important contact info. It is out in several languages in addition to English and Arabic.
Coverage and photos by Farah from http://www.nasawiya.org/
Human Rights Watch: Protecting Working Women Worldwide
Protecting Working Women Worldwide, as told by Nadim Houry, director of Human Rights Watch's Beirut office, June 22, 2010
Many of these workers, who usually migrate from Asia and Africa to cook, clean, and care for children, had jumped out the windows of 4th or 5th story apartments, trying to escape their slave-like conditions.
When I saw the cutouts, I knew our advocacy campaign on this issue had taken off. The cutouts were placed there by a Lebanese women's rights group that had taken up the cause, strengthening our support base for this issue. Passers-by stopped to read the cutouts,
It was 2008, and along Hamra Street, one of Beirut's main thoroughfares, women's rights demonstrators had placed a series of identical cutouts shaped like women's bodies. Painted red, each sign represented a migrant domestic worker who had died - and Human Rights Watch had discovered that they were dying in Lebanon at the shocking rate of one each week.
Many of these workers, who usually migrate from Asia and Africa to cook, clean, and care for children, had jumped out the windows of 4th or 5th story apartments, trying to escape their slave-like conditions.
When I saw the cutouts, I knew our advocacy campaign on this issue had taken off. The cutouts were placed there by a Lebanese women's rights group that had taken up the cause, strengthening our support base for this issue. Passers-by stopped to read the cutouts,
خادمة أم عاملة؟ النظرية العنصرية راجحة
جريدة الأخبار عدد الخميس ٢٤ حزيران ٢٠١٠
% من اللبنانيين يرون ضرورة أن يحتفظ صاحب العمل بجواز سفر العاملة (خلافاً للقانون) فيما يوافق 47% على تمتّع العاملات بيوم إجازة. هذه بعض نتائج دراسة «خادمة، ابنة أم عاملة» التي أُطلقت أمس لتضيء على واقع عاملات المنازل زينب زعيتر
لم تُحسن ماليكا العاملة الإثيوبية كيّ القميص، فعمدت سلمى صاحبة المنزل إلى إحراق يدها بالمكواة. لم تحرّك وكالة الاستقدام ساكناً، ولم تُقم أية دعوى قضائية لأنّ «زوج صاحبة المنزل» رجل ذو مركز. أمّا رانيا فتقفل المنزل بالمفتاح لدى خروجها وتبقى روفيتا العاملة الفيليبينية في الداخل، وعندما تسألها جارتها ماذا لو شبّ حريق في المنزل، يأتي الجواب «لا تقلقي، هؤلاء العاملات مثل القرود لا يصيبهم أي مكروه». أتت هذه الشهادات على ألسنة «أصحاب العمل»
How do employers view migrant domestic workers? (The Daily Star)
By Dalila Mahdawi - Daily Star staff - Thursday, June 24, 2010
BEIRUT: Lebanese employers of migrant domestic workers often project harmful paternalistic feelings toward their employees while at the same time nominally rejecting violations of their rights, a new report has said.
The study, “Servant, Daughter, or Employee? A Pilot Study on the Attitudes of Lebanese Employers toward Migrant Domestic Workers,” launched Wednesday by non-governmental organization KAFA: Enough Violence and Exploitation, also shows that employers are poorly informed about their contractual rights and obligations.
There are around 200,000 women migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, mostly from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Because they are excluded from protection under Lebanese labor laws, they are vulnerable to exploitation and human-rights abuses. They are also subject to a controversial kafala, or sponsorship, system, which effectively binds them to their employer.
But while the hardships endured by workers are receiving greater attention, the attitudes of employers still remain little understood.
KAFA’s study, which is the first major examination of perceptions of Lebanese employers toward their employees, is based on 102 interviews with Lebanese men and women employers and owners or managers of recruitment agencies.
The lack of a clear definition of domestic work means that “employers are free to mandate what work is performed by the employee,” said Zoya Rouhana, director of KAFA. “There are no clear borders,” she said, noting that domestic workers were often obliged to clean the houses of their employer’s relatives for no extra pay. “It is necessary to work on anchoring a sound contractual agreement. Migrant domestic workers should have decent working conditions.”
The study found widespread support for such practices as confiscating the passport of migrant workers or preventing them from meeting other individuals from their country of origin. It also revealed a widespread belief among employees that migrant workers are “only here to work” and a considerable degree of racism toward dark-skinned workers. But all employers rejected the rationing of food of domestic workers and said those who sexually abused their employee should be given the same punishment as someone who sexually abused a Lebanese woman.
“I do not accept to give [the domestic worker] a day off,” said one employer interviewed in the study. “She will go out, have a boyfriend and get pregnant. I [do not accept because I] have a young daughter.”
According to KAFA, many employers lock their employees in their house, with 37.7 percent allowing the domestic worker to leave the house on her own. Only 20 percent of the employers interviewed gave their employee a day off outside the home. “These results show an alarming trend and highlight that a large proportion of domestic workers in Lebanon cannot separate themselves from their employer even if they were allowed time to rest,” said report author Sawsan Abdulrahim.
“Whereas in Lebanese culture maternalism (and paternalism) mandates a high degree of both inclusion and protection, half of the Lebanese employers we interviewed circumscribed the space available in their homes for domestic workers,” Abdulrahim added, noting that 43 percent of employers forbade their employees from eating at the same table or from entering the living room while guests were over.
While most employers (93 percent) said they treated their employees like a family member, a considerable number added that they would fire their domestic worker if they got ill and hire a new one.
The relationship a domestic worker has with her employers depends less on the law and more on “the personal beliefs and values of the employers,” Abdulrahim said.
KAFA said that while Lebanon has recently taken some steps toward improving the rights of migrant domestic workers, the reforms did not go far enough. Lebanon’s recent formulation of a unified contract was a step forward but was riddled with omissions, said Mohanna As-Haf, a KAFA lawyer.
The costs and lengths of legal proceedings work discouraged abused workers from seeking legal redress, with the contract not solving the sponsorship dilemma a worker is placed in if she does file a lawsuit. There is also no way to see that the contract is enforced. “Rights are important when we can claim them,” As-Haf said. Until the contract grants parity between migrant workers and employers, it “remains only ink on paper.”
BEIRUT: Lebanese employers of migrant domestic workers often project harmful paternalistic feelings toward their employees while at the same time nominally rejecting violations of their rights, a new report has said.
The study, “Servant, Daughter, or Employee? A Pilot Study on the Attitudes of Lebanese Employers toward Migrant Domestic Workers,” launched Wednesday by non-governmental organization KAFA: Enough Violence and Exploitation, also shows that employers are poorly informed about their contractual rights and obligations.
There are around 200,000 women migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, mostly from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Because they are excluded from protection under Lebanese labor laws, they are vulnerable to exploitation and human-rights abuses. They are also subject to a controversial kafala, or sponsorship, system, which effectively binds them to their employer.
But while the hardships endured by workers are receiving greater attention, the attitudes of employers still remain little understood.
KAFA’s study, which is the first major examination of perceptions of Lebanese employers toward their employees, is based on 102 interviews with Lebanese men and women employers and owners or managers of recruitment agencies.
The lack of a clear definition of domestic work means that “employers are free to mandate what work is performed by the employee,” said Zoya Rouhana, director of KAFA. “There are no clear borders,” she said, noting that domestic workers were often obliged to clean the houses of their employer’s relatives for no extra pay. “It is necessary to work on anchoring a sound contractual agreement. Migrant domestic workers should have decent working conditions.”
The study found widespread support for such practices as confiscating the passport of migrant workers or preventing them from meeting other individuals from their country of origin. It also revealed a widespread belief among employees that migrant workers are “only here to work” and a considerable degree of racism toward dark-skinned workers. But all employers rejected the rationing of food of domestic workers and said those who sexually abused their employee should be given the same punishment as someone who sexually abused a Lebanese woman.
“I do not accept to give [the domestic worker] a day off,” said one employer interviewed in the study. “She will go out, have a boyfriend and get pregnant. I [do not accept because I] have a young daughter.”
According to KAFA, many employers lock their employees in their house, with 37.7 percent allowing the domestic worker to leave the house on her own. Only 20 percent of the employers interviewed gave their employee a day off outside the home. “These results show an alarming trend and highlight that a large proportion of domestic workers in Lebanon cannot separate themselves from their employer even if they were allowed time to rest,” said report author Sawsan Abdulrahim.
“Whereas in Lebanese culture maternalism (and paternalism) mandates a high degree of both inclusion and protection, half of the Lebanese employers we interviewed circumscribed the space available in their homes for domestic workers,” Abdulrahim added, noting that 43 percent of employers forbade their employees from eating at the same table or from entering the living room while guests were over.
While most employers (93 percent) said they treated their employees like a family member, a considerable number added that they would fire their domestic worker if they got ill and hire a new one.
The relationship a domestic worker has with her employers depends less on the law and more on “the personal beliefs and values of the employers,” Abdulrahim said.
KAFA said that while Lebanon has recently taken some steps toward improving the rights of migrant domestic workers, the reforms did not go far enough. Lebanon’s recent formulation of a unified contract was a step forward but was riddled with omissions, said Mohanna As-Haf, a KAFA lawyer.
The costs and lengths of legal proceedings work discouraged abused workers from seeking legal redress, with the contract not solving the sponsorship dilemma a worker is placed in if she does file a lawsuit. There is also no way to see that the contract is enforced. “Rights are important when we can claim them,” As-Haf said. Until the contract grants parity between migrant workers and employers, it “remains only ink on paper.”
The Himalayan Times: Lebanon assures rights of Nepalese workers
The duo talked about the bilateral matters regarding labour and migration related to matters of mutual interest in the meeting.
Boutros expressed concern over the problems created through irregular channels of migration. He insisted that considering the significant number of migrant workers from Nepal working in Lebanon, the two governments need to establish a regular channel of communication.
The Minister of Lebanon further assured that his government is committed to ensure necessary protection to migrant workers and their rights, including rights to health. On the part of the sending country, it should be ensured that the workers are physically and mentally fit before their departure.
Minister of Labour of Nepal referred to friendly bilateral relations between the two countries and stated that Lebanon has remained a destination of employment
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Children of migrant workers celebrate end of school year
On Friday, the wonderful Insan Association School held an end of school event for all its children. Insan Association is an NGO which caters to children of migrant workers, including migrant domestic workers.
After a word by the administration, the children performed beautiful songs, dances and theater.
The event was inspiring, with children coming from many backgrounds and continents and languages, playing together and sharing the same struggle for dignity in Lebanon.
(note: The Lebanese National Anthem was played at the beginning of the event. Hmmmm.)
Coverage and photos by Farah from http://www.nasawiya.org/
Monday, June 21, 2010
Sexual assault on an Filipino maid
Al-Akhbar reported today that a Filipino maid was sexually assaulted in a home in Bint Jbeil in South Lebanon. She was taken to hospital while the alleged perpetrator (aged 32) was arrested by the Internal Security Forces.
اعتداء جنسيّ على عاملة فيليبينية
أوقفت دورية تابعة لقوى الأمن الداخلي أسعد ح. (32 عاماً) للاشتباه في أنه دخل أول من أمس إلى منزل في بلدة بنت جبيل الجنوبية، واعتدى جنسياً على العاملة الفيليبينية فيه. وقد نُقلت العاملة إلى أحد المستشفيات.
الأخبار عدد الاثنين ٢١ حزيران ٢٠١٠
Friday, June 18, 2010
سودانيون يشكون العنصرية: تحت رحمة جزيني
The following is an article on the brutal clamp down by the Lebanese General Security Forces on a Sudanese fundraising event aimed at gathering money for a child with cancer. The Sudanese interviewed describe the "inhumanity" of the GS behavior and the mistreatment they endured.
كانوا في حفل خيري يعود ريعه لطفل مصاب بالسرطان. اقتحمت الحفل قوة مسلّحة من الأمن العام. أصحاب الحفل شباب سودانيون ذكروا أنهم تعرضوا «لما يندى له جبين الإنسانية»، أما اللواء وفيق جزيني فنفى بعض الوقائع المذكورة وشرح موقف المؤسسة التي يديرها، من اللاجئين ومن سَجن البشر في نظارة تحت الأرض
محمد نزال
«هل نحن بشر في لبنان ؟»، سؤال بسيط يقضّ مضجع المواطن السوداني عبد المنعم إبراهيم منذ 21 عاماً، أي منذ تاريخ لجوئه إلى لبنان. «أعلم أن ليس كل اللبنانيين سواءً، فمنهم من أصبح كأخ لي، لكن المشكلة في نظرة معظم الأجهزة الأمنية إلينا، إذ لا نشعر بأننا بشر في أعينها». يضيف الدكتور عبد المنعم، الذي درس في جامعات لبنان وحصل على أعلى الشهادات.
لم يشأ قدر بعض اللاجئين في لبنان أن يمر يومهم العالمي، الواقع في العشرين من حزيران من كل عام، من دون أن يحصل ما يذكّرهم بـ«البؤس» الذي هم فيه، فاللجوء في بلاد الأرز قد يعني «إذلالاً واحتقاراً وعنصرية». قبل أيام، قصد «الأخبار» عدد من اللاجئين والمقيمين السودانيين، وتحدثوا عن حادثة حصلت معهم في منطقة الأوزاعي قبل نحو أسبوع، جعلت بعضهم يتمنى «الموت في جحيم دارفور على حياة الذل في لبنان».
محمد نزال
«هل نحن بشر في لبنان ؟»، سؤال بسيط يقضّ مضجع المواطن السوداني عبد المنعم إبراهيم منذ 21 عاماً، أي منذ تاريخ لجوئه إلى لبنان. «أعلم أن ليس كل اللبنانيين سواءً، فمنهم من أصبح كأخ لي، لكن المشكلة في نظرة معظم الأجهزة الأمنية إلينا، إذ لا نشعر بأننا بشر في أعينها». يضيف الدكتور عبد المنعم، الذي درس في جامعات لبنان وحصل على أعلى الشهادات.
لم يشأ قدر بعض اللاجئين في لبنان أن يمر يومهم العالمي، الواقع في العشرين من حزيران من كل عام، من دون أن يحصل ما يذكّرهم بـ«البؤس» الذي هم فيه، فاللجوء في بلاد الأرز قد يعني «إذلالاً واحتقاراً وعنصرية». قبل أيام، قصد «الأخبار» عدد من اللاجئين والمقيمين السودانيين، وتحدثوا عن حادثة حصلت معهم في منطقة الأوزاعي قبل نحو أسبوع، جعلت بعضهم يتمنى «الموت في جحيم دارفور على حياة الذل في لبنان».
Thursday, June 17, 2010
خادمة تسرق مخدومتها في كفركلا
The National News Agency reported today that a Bengali maid, born in 1980, has been accused of stealing her employer. Items stolen include jewelery estimated to be up to $10,000. The Bengali maid is said to be on the run.
It's news like this one which contribute to reinforcing Lebanese stereotyping of foreign maids.
It's news like this one which contribute to reinforcing Lebanese stereotyping of foreign maids.
17/06/10 09:37
قضاء - خادمة تسرق مخدومتها في كفركلا
وطنية -17/6/2010 - افاد مندوب الوكالة الوطنية للاعلام علي داوود، ان الخادمة البنغلادشية نيفتام انجوري سلطان (مواليد 1980)، أقدمت عصر امس على سرقة مخدومتها رسمية موسى الروماني في بلدة كفركلا - مرجعيون، وفرت. وتبين ان المسروقات عبارة عن كمية من المجوهرات، قدرت قيمتها بعشرة آلاف دولار اضافة الى الفي دولار .
وتقدمت الروماني بشكوى لدى مخفر درك برج الملوك الذي باشر التحقيق .
وطنية -17/6/2010 - افاد مندوب الوكالة الوطنية للاعلام علي داوود، ان الخادمة البنغلادشية نيفتام انجوري سلطان (مواليد 1980)، أقدمت عصر امس على سرقة مخدومتها رسمية موسى الروماني في بلدة كفركلا - مرجعيون، وفرت. وتبين ان المسروقات عبارة عن كمية من المجوهرات، قدرت قيمتها بعشرة آلاف دولار اضافة الى الفي دولار .
وتقدمت الروماني بشكوى لدى مخفر درك برج الملوك الذي باشر التحقيق .
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The Daily Star Editorial: Stop the Slavery in Lebanon
Stop the slavery in Lebanon
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&article_id=116000&categ_id=17
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The US State Department issued on Monday its annual Trafficking in Persons report, and the horrifying litany of abuses catalogued from Lebanon and throughout this region should be more than enough to push our legislators to finally enact a law against trafficking.
Yes, that’s right – Lebanon does not even have on the books the most basic legislation against trade in human beings. A draft amendment to the labor laws is waiting and waiting in Parliament, and we call without reservation on lawmakers to pass this bill as soon as possible.
That glaring absence of rudimentary legislation served as one of the failures that dumped Lebanon into second-tier status in the trafficking report, and Qatar also finished in that ignominious category, as far as other Arab states are concerned. Should the circumstances here further worsen, we could yet find ourselves in the third and lowest tier of countries – nations which are not even making significant efforts to combat human trafficking. Unfortunately, we would find there a number of our regional brethren: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan and Iran all lack laws against trafficking and any marked moves to address the problem.
In Lebanon, the violations of human rights through trafficking take a variety of forms. For instance,
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&article_id=116000&categ_id=17
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
The US State Department issued on Monday its annual Trafficking in Persons report, and the horrifying litany of abuses catalogued from Lebanon and throughout this region should be more than enough to push our legislators to finally enact a law against trafficking.
Yes, that’s right – Lebanon does not even have on the books the most basic legislation against trade in human beings. A draft amendment to the labor laws is waiting and waiting in Parliament, and we call without reservation on lawmakers to pass this bill as soon as possible.
That glaring absence of rudimentary legislation served as one of the failures that dumped Lebanon into second-tier status in the trafficking report, and Qatar also finished in that ignominious category, as far as other Arab states are concerned. Should the circumstances here further worsen, we could yet find ourselves in the third and lowest tier of countries – nations which are not even making significant efforts to combat human trafficking. Unfortunately, we would find there a number of our regional brethren: Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Sudan and Iran all lack laws against trafficking and any marked moves to address the problem.
In Lebanon, the violations of human rights through trafficking take a variety of forms. For instance,
Monday, June 14, 2010
Lebanese Minister of Labour Condemns Israel at 99th International Labour Conference, but what about migrant domestic workers?
Today in Geneva, leaders from government, labour, employers and civil society have opened discussions on the impact of the current economic and jobs crises on employment policy and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) at a high-level panel at the annual conference of the ILO.
Today, in the National News Agency (NNA), I read a briefing (see below in Arabic) that our Minister of Labour, Boutros Harb, will be participating to the 99th International Labour Conference in Geneva, along with workers union representatives, and representatives of employers. The briefing was headlined "Minister Harb to Speak at Labor Conference in Geneva, Will State Lebanon's Position Rejecting Israel's Intractable Excesses". The NNA briefing says, in substance, that the minister will explain at the conference Lebanon's position on local, Arab and international labour causes, and will include Lebanon's rejection of Israel's intractable excesses especially its recent aggression against the Freedom Flotilla.
Now don't get me wrong. I am for condemning and boycotting Israel until it complies with international law and human rights.
But the NNA briefing did not say anything about the minister's position on a key item on the conference's agenda: Decent work for domestic workers (standard setting, with a view to the possible adoption of a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation)
Also, the NNA briefing did not say if our minister will condemn Israel at Panel 1 on The Global Jobs Pact and macroeconomic policy moderated by Mr. Simon Long (Asia Editor of The Economist), or if he will condemn Israel at Panel 2 on the role of productive employment and social protection in realizing internationally agreed development goals and the MDGs moderated by Mr. Americo Martins dos Santos (Executive Editor for the Americas at the BBC World Service).
The full NNA briefing:
Today, in the National News Agency (NNA), I read a briefing (see below in Arabic) that our Minister of Labour, Boutros Harb, will be participating to the 99th International Labour Conference in Geneva, along with workers union representatives, and representatives of employers. The briefing was headlined "Minister Harb to Speak at Labor Conference in Geneva, Will State Lebanon's Position Rejecting Israel's Intractable Excesses". The NNA briefing says, in substance, that the minister will explain at the conference Lebanon's position on local, Arab and international labour causes, and will include Lebanon's rejection of Israel's intractable excesses especially its recent aggression against the Freedom Flotilla.
Now don't get me wrong. I am for condemning and boycotting Israel until it complies with international law and human rights.
But the NNA briefing did not say anything about the minister's position on a key item on the conference's agenda: Decent work for domestic workers (standard setting, with a view to the possible adoption of a Convention supplemented by a Recommendation)
Also, the NNA briefing did not say if our minister will condemn Israel at Panel 1 on The Global Jobs Pact and macroeconomic policy moderated by Mr. Simon Long (Asia Editor of The Economist), or if he will condemn Israel at Panel 2 on the role of productive employment and social protection in realizing internationally agreed development goals and the MDGs moderated by Mr. Americo Martins dos Santos (Executive Editor for the Americas at the BBC World Service).
The full NNA briefing:
Friday, June 11, 2010
Domestic workers behind the uniform
US photojournalist Matthew Cassel exhibits ‘Unseen Lives’
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&article_id=115832
Friday, June 11, 2010 - Simona Sikimic - Daily Star staff
BEIRUT: Art can be at its most powerful when it incorporates a clear political or social message. The world’s injustices have certainly served as an inspiration to many.
One such injustice spurred Beirut-based photojournalist Matthew Cassel to embark on a project uncovering the real lives of those perhaps most forgotten by society, resulting in the photography exhibition “Unseen Lives: Migrant domestic workers in Lebanon” at Hamra’s Masrah al-Madina.
Theresa Seda, a 28-year-old Filipino maid, jumped from the 7th floor balcony of her employer’s apartment on January 4. The mother of three, who suffered both physical and psychological abuse at the hands of her employers, had been in Beirut for only two months prior to her suicide.
Chicago-born Cassel, who holds a degree in photography, stood witness as her body lay in the street for hours before medical services came to take away the bloodstained corpse. Cassel photographed the corpse to capture the chilling incident and later posted the images on his blog. Here they caught the attention of Lebanese human rights group KAFA, committed to overcoming gender discrimination.
Stirred by the photos and the reaction they received from readers, KAFA approached Cassel to put on an exhibition addressing the daily lives of domestic workers.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
السفير: قانون قيد الإعداد في لبنان واتفاقية دولية قيد الإبرام فـي جنيـف: هـل تكفـي تواقيـع لبنـان لضمـان حقـوق العمال المنزلييـن فيـه؟
تحقيقات - السفير تاريخ 10/06/2010
قانون قيد الإعداد في لبنان واتفاقية دولية قيد الإبرام فـي جنيـف: هـل تكفـي تواقيـع لبنـان لضمـان حقـوق العمال المنزلييـن فيـه؟
مادونا سمعان
انطلقت، منذ الثاني من حزيران الجاري، فعاليات مؤتمر العمل الدولي، في دورته التاسعة والتسعين، الذي تنظّمه «منظمة العمل الدولية». ويشارك لبنان فيه عبر وفد مكون من ستة أشخاص انتدبتهم وزارة العمل، يتوزعون على لجان المؤتمر السبع، ينضمّ إليهم وزير العمل بطرس حرب واثنان من مستشاريه بعد غد السبت، لتلاوة كلمة لبنان والمشاركة في المباحثات حتى نهاية المؤتمر. ويترأس حرب اليوم اجتماع لجنة التسيير الوطنية التي شكّلها مجلس الوزراء السابق، لمعالجة شؤون العمال المنزليين، بعدما توقف عملها منذ حوالى السنة. وقد أنيطت بها مهمة الإعداد لمشروع قانون وكتيّب ارشادي يبصر النور قريباً، بالإضافة إلى العقد الجماعي الذي بدأ العمل به.
إلى عناوينه المعتادة، يطرح المؤتمر الدولي موضوع العمّال المنزليين على قاعدة تقرير عنوانه «العمل اللائق من أجل العمال المنزليين»، يشكل خلفية دراسية رئيسية لإبرام اتفاقية دولية ترعى حقوق هؤلاء العمال، وذلك قبيل انتهاء المؤتمر في 18 الجاري.
مادونا سمعان
انطلقت، منذ الثاني من حزيران الجاري، فعاليات مؤتمر العمل الدولي، في دورته التاسعة والتسعين، الذي تنظّمه «منظمة العمل الدولية». ويشارك لبنان فيه عبر وفد مكون من ستة أشخاص انتدبتهم وزارة العمل، يتوزعون على لجان المؤتمر السبع، ينضمّ إليهم وزير العمل بطرس حرب واثنان من مستشاريه بعد غد السبت، لتلاوة كلمة لبنان والمشاركة في المباحثات حتى نهاية المؤتمر. ويترأس حرب اليوم اجتماع لجنة التسيير الوطنية التي شكّلها مجلس الوزراء السابق، لمعالجة شؤون العمال المنزليين، بعدما توقف عملها منذ حوالى السنة. وقد أنيطت بها مهمة الإعداد لمشروع قانون وكتيّب ارشادي يبصر النور قريباً، بالإضافة إلى العقد الجماعي الذي بدأ العمل به.
إلى عناوينه المعتادة، يطرح المؤتمر الدولي موضوع العمّال المنزليين على قاعدة تقرير عنوانه «العمل اللائق من أجل العمال المنزليين»، يشكل خلفية دراسية رئيسية لإبرام اتفاقية دولية ترعى حقوق هؤلاء العمال، وذلك قبيل انتهاء المؤتمر في 18 الجاري.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Ethiopian falls from third floor, sustains injuries
Al-Akhbar newspaper reported today that national, Koma Seboka, born in 1982, fell from the balcony of her employer on the third floor in Naccache (North of Beirut). She sustained bruises, broken bones and injuries and was transferred to hospital. Antelias police station opened an investigation into the incident.
سقوط عاملة من الطبقة الثالثة
سقطت المواطنة الإثيوبية كوما سيبوكا (مواليد 1982) من شرفة منزل مخدومتها الكائنة في الطبقة الثالثة في محلة النقّاش، الأمر الذي أدى إلى إصابتها بكسور ورضوض نُقلت على أثرها إلى المستشفى لتلقي العلاج. وقد فتحت فصيلة أنطلياس تحقيقاً لتبيان ملابسات الحادث.
عدد الثلاثاء ٨ حزيران ٢٠١٠
Monday, June 7, 2010
العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان: صُوَر «تؤرّخ» يومياتهن
كيف تعيش العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان؟ جزء من الإجابة سيأتي بالصور في إطار معرض تقيمه منظمة «كفى» ابتداءً من يوم غد. سيكون المعرض مناسبة لإعادة الكلام على وضع هؤلاء العاملات وعلى مشاريع لمساعدتهن قانونياً ونفسياً
زينب زعيتر
تعرضت سوماري، العاملة البنغالية للتحرش الجنسي في المنزل الذي تعمل فيه، مرات عدّة. كانت الشابة الثلاثينية تحاول أن تجد وسيلة لإيصال شكواها، ووضع حد للمضايقات التي تعانيها، فاتصلت بمحامية منظمة «كفى» مهانة إسحاق وطلبت منها المساعدة. خلال النقاشات بين سوماري والمحامية، طلبت منها الأخيرة التروّي ونصحتها بعدم الهرب من منزل مشغّليها، وإلّا فقد يتهمها أصحاب المنزل بالسرقة. عملت سوماري بالنصيحة، فبقيت في المنزل حتى استدعتها النيابة العامة. جرى التحقيق أيضاً مع أصحاب المنزل، بعدما تقدّمت إسحاق بإخبار للنيابة العامة يفيد بعملية التحرش بسوماري، و«بما أنّ القانون لا يقف إلى جانب سوماري بسبب عدم الحصول على دليل واضح للتحرّش، جرى التفاوض مع المدّعى عليه». تقول إسحاق إن سوماري تنازلت عن الدعوى مقابل الحصول على أجرها الذي لم تحصل عليه لشهور، ودفع مشغلوها ثمن بطاقة تسفيرها إلى بلادها، وغادرت لبنان الأسبوع الماضي.
معاناة عدد من العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان باتت تقلق الناشطين في مجال حقوق الإنسان وجمعيات أهلية لبنانية ودولية، والآن تُدرس تحركات ومشاريع واقتراحات قوانين لوضع حد لهذه المعاناة. من المشاريع المقررة، «لا لاستغلال عاملات المنازل الأجنبيات» الذي تنظمه منظمة «كفى». في المشروع أربعة محاور لتوثيق ومواجهة مجموعة السلوكيات السلبية والنظرة السائدة التي تعانيها العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان.
زينب زعيتر
تعرضت سوماري، العاملة البنغالية للتحرش الجنسي في المنزل الذي تعمل فيه، مرات عدّة. كانت الشابة الثلاثينية تحاول أن تجد وسيلة لإيصال شكواها، ووضع حد للمضايقات التي تعانيها، فاتصلت بمحامية منظمة «كفى» مهانة إسحاق وطلبت منها المساعدة. خلال النقاشات بين سوماري والمحامية، طلبت منها الأخيرة التروّي ونصحتها بعدم الهرب من منزل مشغّليها، وإلّا فقد يتهمها أصحاب المنزل بالسرقة. عملت سوماري بالنصيحة، فبقيت في المنزل حتى استدعتها النيابة العامة. جرى التحقيق أيضاً مع أصحاب المنزل، بعدما تقدّمت إسحاق بإخبار للنيابة العامة يفيد بعملية التحرش بسوماري، و«بما أنّ القانون لا يقف إلى جانب سوماري بسبب عدم الحصول على دليل واضح للتحرّش، جرى التفاوض مع المدّعى عليه». تقول إسحاق إن سوماري تنازلت عن الدعوى مقابل الحصول على أجرها الذي لم تحصل عليه لشهور، ودفع مشغلوها ثمن بطاقة تسفيرها إلى بلادها، وغادرت لبنان الأسبوع الماضي.
معاناة عدد من العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان باتت تقلق الناشطين في مجال حقوق الإنسان وجمعيات أهلية لبنانية ودولية، والآن تُدرس تحركات ومشاريع واقتراحات قوانين لوضع حد لهذه المعاناة. من المشاريع المقررة، «لا لاستغلال عاملات المنازل الأجنبيات» الذي تنظمه منظمة «كفى». في المشروع أربعة محاور لتوثيق ومواجهة مجموعة السلوكيات السلبية والنظرة السائدة التي تعانيها العاملات الأجنبيات في لبنان.
Ministry launches complaints office for migrant workers
02 June 2010
BEIRUT: Labor Minister Butros Harb announced Tuesday the opening of a complaints office in his ministry along with issuing a guide to inform migrant workers about their rights and obligations.
“I am pleased to tell you that I launched my reform program that will target the administration along with initiating different projects,” the labor minister told reporters.
Harb made his announcement during a news conference he held at the headquarters of the Labor Ministry in the Beirut suburb of Shiyyah.
Among the attendants were representatives of states that have migrant workers in Lebanon along with civil society committees.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Unseen Lives: Domestic Workers in Lebanon (PHOTO EXHIBITION)
Start Time: Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 5:00pm
End Time: Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00pm
Location: Al Madina theatre- مسرح المدينة
Photos by Matthew Cassel
The Photo exhibition is part of "Stop the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers", implemented by KAFA in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council
for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103229463058594
and: http://www.timeoutbeirut.com/art/article/2404/unseen-lives-migrant-domestic-workers.html
End Time: Friday, June 11, 2010 at 9:00pm
Location: Al Madina theatre- مسرح المدينة
Photos by Matthew Cassel
The Photo exhibition is part of "Stop the Exploitation of Migrant Domestic Workers", implemented by KAFA in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council
حياة لا نراها: عاملات المنازل الأجنبيات في لبنان - معرض صور
صور بعدسة ماثيو كاسيل
يندرج المعرض في إطار مشروع "لا لاستغلال عاملات المنازل الأجنبيات"، الذي تنفذه منظمة كفى بالاشتراك مع المجلس الدنماركي للاجئين
يفتتح المعرض في 8 حزيران الساعة 6 مساءاً
صور بعدسة ماثيو كاسيل
يندرج المعرض في إطار مشروع "لا لاستغلال عاملات المنازل الأجنبيات"، الذي تنفذه منظمة كفى بالاشتراك مع المجلس الدنماركي للاجئين
يفتتح المعرض في 8 حزيران الساعة 6 مساءاً
for more information: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103229463058594
and: http://www.timeoutbeirut.com/art/article/2404/unseen-lives-migrant-domestic-workers.html
Maids are "miscellaneous" at Water Gate Aqua Park
Me: Excuse me, but what does "Miscellaneous" mean?
Receptionist: Maids.
Me: Oh! So are they allowed to swim or go on the slides?
Receptionist: No. They are only allowed to wear shorts and accompany the small children in the water.
Me: Is that a decision by the administration?
Receptionist: Yes.
(sorry for not being able to post more often, but Israel's freedom flotilla massacre took priority for a while)
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