One of the biggest problems that domestic helpers encounter whilst employed in Lebanon is that they are "forbidden" to have a day off. When they do go out with their employers they sometimes forbidden to speak to any other domestic helpers. It is essential that they have a day off to meet, mingle and have some contact with friends. They are often locked in homes all day. Contact with the outside world is essential to ensure that these poor girls do not lapse into depression and a state of poor mental health.
There are some wonderful Lebanese employers that treat their domestic helpers as part of the family unit which is the way it should be. Not all Lebanese are guilty of treating their domestic helpers as slaves but the small minority that do give a bad name to all Lebanese as we are seeing in this discussion.
There are times when these poor girls arrive to Lebanon already with mental health problems. There was a case recently of a newly hired eithiopian maid that threw a small child off the balcony and then jumped herself in the middle of night. She had taken the child out of her bed whilst she slept. She has only been in the country for a couple of days. The employers has contacted the agency saying that they felt that the domestic helper didnt seem right in the head and had planned to send her back to the agency. It really was tragic.
Are these girls assessed to check their state of mind before leaving their mother countries??? I highly doubt it.
The agencies that bring these poor girls in foreign countries to work should have more responsibility regarding their welfare. There should be regular check ups once they have started employment with families. Their day off should be enforced or they should have the right to leave and change employer. Protection of these girls is essential. Employers that violate the rights of the contract of their domestic helpers should be blacklisted and not allowed bring in any more domestic workers.
One of the biggest problems that domestic helpers encounter whilst employed in Lebanon is that they are "forbidden" to have a day off. When they do go out with their employers they sometimes forbidden to speak to any other domestic helpers. It is essential that they have a day off to meet, mingle and have some contact with friends. They are often locked in homes all day. Contact with the outside world is essential to ensure that these poor girls do not lapse into depression and a state of poor mental health.
There are some wonderful Lebanese employers that treat their domestic helpers as part of the family unit which is the way it should be. Not all Lebanese are guilty of treating their domestic helpers as slaves but the small minority that do give a bad name to all Lebanese as we are seeing in this discussion.
There are times when these poor girls arrive to Lebanon already with mental health problems. There was a case recently of a newly hired eithiopian maid that threw a small child off the balcony and then jumped herself in the middle of night. She had taken the child out of her bed whilst she slept. She has only been in the country for a couple of days. The employers has contacted the agency saying that they felt that the domestic helper didnt seem right in the head and had planned to send her back to the agency. It really was tragic.
Are these girls assessed to check their state of mind before leaving their mother countries??? I highly doubt it.
The agencies that bring these poor girls in foreign countries to work should have more responsibility regarding their welfare. There should be regular check ups once they have started employment with families. Their day off should be enforced or they should have the right to leave and change employer. Protection of these girls is essential. Employers that violate the rights of the contract of their domestic helpers should be blacklisted and not allowed bring in any more domestic workers.