‘Modern day slavery’? : the Kafala system in Lebanon, from its beginnings to present day. Feminist perspectives
‘Modern day slavery’? : the Kafala system in Lebanon, from its beginnings to present day. Feminist perspectives
Date
2022
Authors
Barra, Stephanie : de la
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Abstract
In Lebanon domestic work is organized through the so-called Kafala System. A system based
on sponsorship, where one party (Kafil) provides legal assurance on behalf on another
(Makful). Within this relation migrant labor power is bound to a sponsor, who is legally liable
for the employee. Hence, Kafala creates a work relation based on dependency, which
facilitates abusive behavior by the employer. Non-governmental organizations and media
often refer to Kafala as ‘modern day slavery’. In Lebanon this practice overwhelmingly
concerns women from Southeast Asian and African descent, often facing multi-layered
discriminations and abuses based on their sex, race, and class. In Lebanon Kafala is a
genuinely female topic. This research examines the history of the Kafala System in Lebanon
from its beginnings to present day, focusing on feminist perspectives. Three phases are
identified and presented: First, the history and emergence of the Kafala System, second, the
involvement of civil society and NGOs advocating for women migrant domestic worker’s
rights, and third, the impacts of the three major crises on Kafala are shown, the economic
meltdown, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the Beirut Blast. This study explores how a system of
structural inequality is established, permitting discrimination and abusive behavior, the role of
an active civil society is addressed, as well as detecting momenta of alteration through crises,
discussing possible future change.
Description
Second semester University: Ca' Foscari University of Venice
Keywords
slavery,
Lebanon,
migrant workers,
women,
feminism,
domestic workers