BEIRUT: The licenses of 171 domestic worker recruitment agencies were revoked Tuesday after Lebanon’s Labor Ministry launched a nationwide crackdown, investigating the methods and practices of agencies.
A further 23 agencies were temporarily suspended as a result of the ongoing investigation.
“This profession deals with humans and not the trade of items,” caretaker Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi said in a statement Tuesday.
The move comes as part of a campaign by Azzi to raise the quality of Lebanon’s agencies to meet international standards.
The 23 temporarily suspended agencies have been given three months to meet legal requirements.
The ministry called on the Union of Domestic Worker Recruitment Agencies to abide by the law and deal with domestic workers in a humanitarian manner, holding it responsible for any violations.
It also called on employers to treat domestic workers in a respectful manner, and to fully safeguard their rights.
“The problems are mainly with the illegal agencies that do not belong to the syndicate,” the statement said.
The ministry has received many complaints from domestic workers about how they are treated by their employers, as well as from households employing domestic workers.
Due to the high number of complaints, Azzi formed an advisory body to study the situation of the agencies. Following case studies and supervision, the advisory body presented the report to Azzi with a number of recommendations.
Lebanon has more than 700 licensed domestic worker recruitment agencies, but a Labor Ministry statement Tuesday said that just 441 meet legal standards.
Suicide among domestic worker is common with around one death a week reported in Lebanon, some countries have banned their citizens from working in Lebanon.
Recruitment offices have come under increased scrutiny in recent years for violating labor laws and exploiting the ‘kafala’ system that governs the status of foreign domestic workers who are brought into the country under the sponsorship of a Lebanese employer.
A further 23 agencies were temporarily suspended as a result of the ongoing investigation.
“This profession deals with humans and not the trade of items,” caretaker Labor Minister Sejaan Azzi said in a statement Tuesday.
The move comes as part of a campaign by Azzi to raise the quality of Lebanon’s agencies to meet international standards.
The 23 temporarily suspended agencies have been given three months to meet legal requirements.
The ministry called on the Union of Domestic Worker Recruitment Agencies to abide by the law and deal with domestic workers in a humanitarian manner, holding it responsible for any violations.
It also called on employers to treat domestic workers in a respectful manner, and to fully safeguard their rights.
“The problems are mainly with the illegal agencies that do not belong to the syndicate,” the statement said.
The ministry has received many complaints from domestic workers about how they are treated by their employers, as well as from households employing domestic workers.
Due to the high number of complaints, Azzi formed an advisory body to study the situation of the agencies. Following case studies and supervision, the advisory body presented the report to Azzi with a number of recommendations.
Lebanon has more than 700 licensed domestic worker recruitment agencies, but a Labor Ministry statement Tuesday said that just 441 meet legal standards.
Suicide among domestic worker is common with around one death a week reported in Lebanon, some countries have banned their citizens from working in Lebanon.
Recruitment offices have come under increased scrutiny in recent years for violating labor laws and exploiting the ‘kafala’ system that governs the status of foreign domestic workers who are brought into the country under the sponsorship of a Lebanese employer.
Source & Link : The Daily Star
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