Displacement of migrant workers in Lebanon increases risk of modern slavery
There’s growing concern over the ongoing crisis and displacement in Lebanon and its impact on migrant workers and increases their existing vulnerability to modern slavery.
Israel has escalated its indiscriminate and large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon.
Following the violence, reports have emerged of the displacement of migrant workers from Sudan, Burkina Faso, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Sierra Leone, and other countries. These individuals are now stranded, according to Migrant Workers’ Action (MWA).
Many are sleeping rough, abandoned by their employers, and left without residency documents or financial resources.
Migrant workers in Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East, especially those in domestic roles, are particularly vulnerable under the Kafala system, which ties their legal status to their employers.
This leaves migrant workers at the whim of their employers and leaves them open to coercion through threats, document confiscation, false job promises, and financial manipulation.
War and displacement have worsened these vulnerabilities, exposing these individuals to the risk of further exploitation and modern slavery.
Why are migrant workers in Lebanon vulnerable to modern slavery?
Many workers want to return home, but several obstacles exist.
Repatriation efforts have all but come to a halt due to the security situation. Flights have been cancelled and even when they are available, the sharp increase in costs makes travel unaffordable.
Embassy responses have been varied. Some have plans to help their citizens but others have provided limited or no information, which has led to uncertainty and frustration, and left many workers abandoned.
MWA spoke to a number of Sierra Leonean women. Most wanted to be repatriated but they said there were no clear plans to help their return.
The situation is made worse by many migrant workers being undocumented, which is an issue that has been ongoing even before the war.
It’s common for employers to confiscate workers’ passports and not renew their residency documents, which makes it nearly impossible for them to leave the country. This has been exacerbated due to the current conflict.
There has been no clear communication from Lebanese General Security on procedures for expired residencies.
How do modern slavery risks increase in conflict?
The situation in Lebanon is not unique. The breakdown of law and order allows perpetrators to act without fear of punishment.
For people living in conflict areas, they can experience situations of modern slavery such as:
• Being targeted by traffickers along their journey while attempting to escape.
• Not receiving the protection needed to prevent modern slavery at displacement sites, including camps.
• Being forcibly recruited to fight, forcibly married to fighters, or forced to perform labour or sexual services.
• Children being forced to marry as a method of protecting them against sexual violence by armed groups or due to extreme economic insecurity.
Walk Free condemns the escalation of indiscriminate and large-scale airstrikes across Lebanon.
We call for an immediate end to hostilities and the prioritisation of human rights for all. We urge leaders to act swiftly to uphold human rights protections and ensure peace for affected communities.
- The Lebanese government should include migrant domestic workers, as well as other migrants, in its emergency relief response. This includes granting access to government-run shelters and other services essential to ensure their right to an adequate standard of living.
- International organisations should open and maintain emergency shelters for displaced migrant domestic workers to meet the immediate need for shelter, access to basic necessities, and the provision of healthcare.
- International organisations should advocate for migrant domestic workers to be repatriated through a time-sensitive procedure, which includes a general amnesty for expired residency papers as well as the waiving of penalty fees.
- International and Lebanese organisations should provide focused relief to migrant domestic workers, including access to psychosocial support and protection services and taking into consideration their vulnerability to re-trafficking.
- In line with international commitments, the donor community should support the government of Lebanon with adequate financial and technical assistance in its efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the growing number of displaced people in the country. International donors should also adjust granting and funding conditions to give frontline community-led organisations access to crucial funding for their work.
