Modern day slavery - The Kafala System with This is Lebanon

In this episode, Stephani takes on understanding the Kafala System in Lebanon with the insight and knowledge of This is Lebanon. Together, they dive deep into the history, policies and horrific stories of what we call today, the modern-day slavery, Kafala System.

The kafala system, also known as the sponsorship system, outlines the connection between foreign workers and their domestic sponsor, typically their employer. This arrangement has been practiced in nations belonging to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, in addition to Jordan and Lebanon.

“In Lebanon, domestic workers are expected to execute their assigned tasks to perfection and without question. Non-compliance can easily be punished by withheld pay, termination of employment, or worse, verbal, physical, or sexual abuse. Workers will perform their assignments for an average 100-hour work week, and the notion of overtime pay is virtually nonexistent.” (Nicolas Haddad, Al Rawiya)

THIS IS LEBANON (TIL) is a federally registered non-profit in Canada run by a coalition of former migrant workers and activists demanding the protection of migrant domestic workers, and an end to labour exploitation and abuse, with the aim to effectively end government-sanctioned, modern-day slavery in Lebanon. They aim to empower domestic workers, informing them of their rights and supporting their access to justice.

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