There are over a quarter of a million migrant domestic women workers in Lebanon. Caritas Lebanon is one of the few local organisations making efforts to ensure decent working conditions.
With the voyage of Pope Francis to the Mexican border with the US, there is increased focus on migration and the impact on poor and vulnerable families.
Dirty, demanding and dangerous – these are the types of jobs that migrants often find themselves doing when they leave their homes.
Recent Caritas report enables a better understanding of the events that force people to become migrants.
Caritas is a mission, not a job. Nirmala Wijesinghe who runs a Caritas safe house in Beiruit is one of the many staff and volunteers around the world who illustrate this through their constant dedication and hard work.
The most vulnerable to slavery conditions are those who, due to poverty, lack of other possibilities or indebtedness, accept irregular work and fall prey to traffickers who severely exploit them and make it impossible for them to leave.
Migrant domestic workers should be treated with the same respect as any other worker: “Treat others as you want to be treated”. That's the message of a film by Caritas Lebanon to coincide with forth anniversary of an internation convention setting labour standards for domestic workers.
“Governments, employers and consumers need to send a clear signal that trafficking will not be tolerated. The life of Josephine Bakhita inspires us to step up our actions on ending this crime.”
Caritas urges governments to increase efforts to protect the dignity and rights of trafficked people on the first ever World Day of Trafficking in Persons (30th July).
As South-East Asians increasingly migrate overseas in search of work, there is concern over the growing number of family members, particularly children, left behind in the home countries.