Hundreds of stranded Ethiopian domestic workers in Lebanon forced to sleep on Beirut streets

Over a hundred stranded domestic workers have been sleeping outside the Ethiopian consulate in Lebanon, local media reported on Wednesday, having demanded to be repatriated after their Lebanese employers refused to pay their salaries.

The workers said they were stuck in the country as they were unable to pay for repatriation, while consular services are unable to help them.

There is also reportedly a lack of space for them to quarantine in Addis Ababa, a precaution enacted by Ethiopia due to the coronavirus epidemic.

Many of the women have been abandoned by their employers and recruitment agencies, leaving them without pay, their belongings, or even their passports, according to Amnesty International.

Late on Wednesday, the ministry of labour tweeted to say the women would be moved to a shelter.

Read more: Lebanon's Anti-Racism Movement is a lifeline for vulnerable migrant workers during coronavirus

Lebanon's exploitative Kafala sponsorship system excludes maids, nannies and carers from Lebanon's labour law, and leaves them at the mercy of their employers, who pay wages as low as $150 a month.

The system dictates that unhappy workers are unable to resign without their employer's permission, while their visa and other rights are terminated once they lose their jobs, leading many to liken it to modern-day slavery.

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Amnesty International condemned the womens' situation on Wednesday, calling on the Lebanese authorities to protect migrant domestic workers trapped in the country as the economic crisis in Lebanon deepens.

The group said that the ministry of labour should enforce the unified standard contract, which would guarantee migrant workers the right to their pay and accommodation. 

"These women are among the most marginalised people in society, and are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis which was exacerbated by Covid-19," said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s MENA Regional Director.

"The Lebanese government cannot ignore their plight. Under the kafala system, not only are their rights restricted but their lives are endangered as well, particularly as reports of abuse in the home have increased during confinement," she added.

Morayef called on the Lebanese authorities to investigate the crisis and stop it from escalating further, saying they must immediately provide accommodation, food, medical care and other support to migrant workers who have lost their jobs.

Amnesty also called for the Lebanese government to set up a labour inspection unit to monitor working conditions of migrant domestic workers, as well as a fast-tracked dispute mechanism so workers can claim their unpaid salaries and request to be repatriated.

An estimated 250,000 domestic workers live in Lebanon, around 150,000 whom are Ethiopian, according to government figures. However, thousands more are estimated to be in the country undocumented.

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