Protecting the Rights of Migrant Women Domestic Workers in Lebanon

The project is the result of a 3.5 year pilot phase that fits into a long-term regional intervention by the ILO to better regulate and monitor international labour migration and to protect the rights of domestic workers. Lebanon’s Ministry of Labour (MoL) led the pilot phase through a national steering committee that involved the ILO, other UN agencies, government institutions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), during which time a larger action plan with specific institutional capacity building components was adopted.

Objectives

• The project enhances economic integration for women migrants and improved labour migration governance and social dialogue as a means to contribute to poverty alleviation through decent work for migrant workers. It aims to:
• Improve the working conditions of women migrant domestic workers in Lebanon
• Revise laws that apply to domestic workers to bring them in line with international labour standards
• Build the capacity of stakeholders to monitor the working terms and conditions of women migrant domestic workers (WMDWs)
• Raise the awareness of domestic workers and of the Lebanese public to the rights and obligations of domestic workers

Activities

• Under the overall guidance of the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) comprised of national stakeholders and NGOs working on issues relating to MDWs, the project will:
• Build the capacities of MoL staff on international labour standards, Convention 189, gender, dealing with disputes and labour inspection.
• Provide technical assistance to the legal department of the MoL to amend legislation and ensure MDWs are better protected.
• Help increase the efficiency of the Division of Foreign Labour Force within the MoL, especially its hotline.
• Facilitate data coordination among the MoL, CAS, GS.
• Organize exchange visits of national stakeholders to other receiving countries.
• Build the capacities of the Syndicate of Recruitment Agencies in Lebanon (SORAL) on the Code of Conduct and international labour standards.
• Raise awareness of gender and international labour standards issues by targeting national stakeholders and universities.
• Raise awareness amongst employers of decent work for MDWs and the contribution of WMDWs.
• Carry out: a survey on migrant workers’ statistics; research on turning WMDWs into a vocal partner and fostering the link between NGOs, unions, and MDWs; an assessment of legal forms of organizing among domestic workers within the national context; a rapid assessment on labour market needs; and an analysis of legal court cases relevant to WMDWs.
• Share good practices and lessons learned through publications and sub-regional workshops.
• Engage trade unions in promoting the rights of MDWs.
• Develop communication tools to use in awareness raising activities.

Outcomes

• An enhanced capacity of the MoL and other key players to manage, coordinate and monitor the working terms and conditions of MDWs in Lebanon.
• An increased awareness of the situation of WMDWs in Lebanon
• Project Advisory Committee (PAC) established to provide overall guidance, support, and monitoring of the project and to continue to coordinate with the National Steering Committee on WMDWs.