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Tala Ramadan

Domestic Workers Stranded Outside Ethiopian Embassy After Being Abandoned By Employers

For weeks on end now, domestic workers in Lebanon have been stranded outside the Ethiopian Embassy in Beirut, with no food, money, or even their passports.



The women were left to their fate as their employers were unable to pay their wages due to the unprecedented foreign currency crisis, and thus abandoned them.



Footage of these infuriating scenes have been recently making the rounds on social media, which finally triggered a response from the Ministry of Labor.

Last night, Minister Lamia Yammine Douaihy announced that they will be providing temporary shelters for the homeless domestic workers and condemned the “unfortunate scene” outside the consulate, pledging to take necessary measures against the employers.



Earlier in May, Ethiopian workers staged a symbolic demonstration outside their embassy to demand free repatriation.



Unfortunately, migrant workers seem to be among the most vulnerable in this crisis, where thousands are tied under the ill-reputed “kafala” system. Many are trapped and are unable to go home because they cannot afford the exorbitant costs of repatriation flights, and no one has stepped in to help them yet.

Perhaps before we as Lebanese rush to express our support of the #BlackLivesMatter movement on social media, we should take a minute and fight racism and discrimination in our communities.