WE’RE PARTNERING WITH OUR FRIENDS,
ENGA LEGNA BESIDET
Egna Legna Besidet is a grassroots organization based in Lebanon that provides crucial support to migrant domestic workers. The organization is run by former migrant domestic workers and focuses on addressing the systemic challenges faced by migrant workers under the Kafala system.
Egna Legna raises awareness about the exploitation and abuses faced by migrant workers in Lebanon, including unpaid wages, physical abuse, and restrictive conditions. The organization advocates for the abolition of the Kafala system and calls for legal protections for domestic workers.
Right now, Egna Legna are on the ground in Lebanon and providing hands-on support and relief to migrant domestic workers in the aftermath of the Lebanon war.
LEBANON WAR
EMERGENY RESPONSE
The Lebanon war and ongoing crises have profoundly impacted migrant domestic workers, exacerbating their already vulnerable conditions.
Economic Collapse and Wage Issues
Workers’ salaries have effectively become worthless, leaving them unable to send remittances home or support their families.
Unpaid Wages: Employers often cannot afford to pay workers, leading to widespread wage theft or delayed payments.
Job Loss and Abandonment
As households struggle to survive due to the economic and political instability, many have terminated contracts with domestic workers.
Some workers have been abandoned, left without food, shelter, or financial means to return to their home countries.
Barriers to Repatriation
Many migrant workers are unable to return to their home countries due to:
Lack of financial resources to pay for flights. Confiscated passports, a common practice under the Kafala system. Limited availability of flights due to war and economic collapse.
NGOs and Limited Support
NGOs and advocacy groups have stepped in to provide aid, including shelter, food, and legal assistance. However, their resources are stretched thin, as the ongoing crises have overwhelmed support systems.
To conclude…
The Lebanon war, combined with economic instability, has left migrant domestic workers in dire circumstances. Many are trapped in a cycle of poverty, exploitation, and neglect, with few avenues for recourse. Advocacy for systemic reform, including the abolition of the Kafala system and stronger legal protections, remains critical to addressing their plight.
Increased Exploitation and Abuse
In times of war and crisis, abuse and exploitation of migrant workers often increase as laws and oversight weaken.
Domestic workers report higher levels of physical, verbal, and emotional abuse during times of conflict.
Curfews and safety concerns during the war have also limited their ability to seek help.
Mental and Emotional Strain
The war has left many workers in a state of anxiety and trauma, compounded by isolation and uncertainty about their future. Many workers are also separated from their families, heightening emotional stress.
Systemic Neglect
Domestic workers are not prioritized during times of war or economic collapse.
The lack of legal protections under Lebanese labour laws leaves them without any formal support network during crises.
Egna Legna are currently responding to the needs in the aftermath of the war.
They are helping domestic workers who have been abandoned by their employers or are facing abuse by connecting them with safe shelters and providing basic practical needs.
They are providing emergency financial support to workers who have lost their jobs or are struggling to meet basic needs.
The organization assists workers who wish to return to their home countries by helping with travel arrangements, securing documents, and covering flight costs.
Make a donation.
100% of all donations will go directly to helping migrant domestic workers in Lebanon