Crossing the desert
Background
Abandoned in times of peace and in war
On September 27, 2024, migrant domestic workers in Lebanon, already vulnerable under the Kafala system, were abandoned by their employers in the midst of a devastating war. Trapped in South, North and in Beirut capital of Lebanon, they faced constant shelling and bombings as many Lebanese employers fled, leaving women from Cameroon, Ghana, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Philippines and Sierra Leone to fend for themselves. Promises of help were never fulfilled, and some workers were locked in homes in heavily bombed areas, dying trapped under the rubble after desperate attempts for rescue. Others, without passports or belongings, struggled to find safety.
While the Lebanese Ministry of Education opened shelters for displaced citizens, migrant workers were excluded, forcing many to seek refuge by Beirut’s seaside, where they experienced the « endless horizon of freedom » as they saw the sea for the first time.
What is the Kafala system
The Kafala system, or sponsorship, allows individuals and businesses in Lebanon, Jordan, and most Gulf countries to exercise near-total control over the employment and immigration status of migrant workers. This legal mechanism, in place for decades, defines the relationship between foreign workers and their «kafeel» (sponsor), typically their employer. Originally designed to provide cheap labor, the system has become highly controversial due to widespread exploitation, low wages, poor working conditions, and abuse, including racial discrimination and sexual violence.
Under this system, employers cover the workers› travel and housing expenses, but the workers are often forced to live in deplorable conditions. Domestic workers, in particular, are usually required to live in their employer›s home, have their passports confiscated, receive no days off, and face restrictions that prevent them from leaving the house. Since the system is governed by the Ministry of Interior rather than the Ministry of Labor, workers are denied legal protection.
The system grants private citizens, rather than the state, control over workers› visas and legal status, creating a power imbalance that employers can easily exploit. Employers have the power to dictate whether a worker›s employment continues or ends, and even whether the worker can leave the country. Leaving the workplace without authorization is considered an offense, leading to the termination of the worker’s legal status, and even imprisonment or deportation, even if the worker is fleeing abuse. This lack of protection makes the Kafala system a breeding ground for modern-day slavery
