Crossposting: Measures taken to improve conditions for foreign workers

BEIRUT: Basic steps to improve the situation of Lebanon’s hundreds of thousands of migrant workers, at risk from abuse and exploitation, were taken by the syndicate of recruitment agencies Wednesday.

The Syndicate of the Owners of the Workers Recruitment Agencies has now entered into a formal agreement with Lebanese NGO Caritas, promising to better inform their employees of their rights, increase their access to social services and to blacklist employers who are known to have been abusive, preventing them from repeating their offenses.

It is hoped that the coordination, alongside legal reforms currently under review by the Labor Ministry and the Interior Ministry, could alleviate some of the worst human-rights abuses and help migrants secure a basic level of protection.

“Improving rights for migrants is, in fact, one of the most important goals of our syndicate,” said syndicate representative Hicham al-Bourji. “We are fully aware of the necessity of this matter and the need for it in our society.”

The agencies have also vowed to work more closely with migrants’ home countries to help them inform their citizens of the reality they will face once in Lebanon, and to help them, should abuses occur.

Most migrants work as domestic helpers but living inside their employer’s homes leaves them especially vulnerable to exploitation. Many reportedly suffer from physical and even sexual abuse but are unable to report the mistreatment. They can also be incarcerated inside the home, denied wages or access to medical attention, and forced to work for very long hours in tough conditions, with no rest.

In a recent report, Human Rights Watch estimated that conditions are so deplorable that around one suicide, or accidental death from women trying to escape the home, happens in the country almost every week.

Consequently, some foreign countries have taken the drastic step of banning their nationals from working in certain fields.

The ban, however, is only addressing the symptoms and is not helping to address the root causes, said Bourji.

“While we fully understand the reasons why [countries have] enforced the ban … [It is] being used as an excuse to minimize embassy protection and petition for change,” he said.

Embassy representatives – including the Sri Lankan ambassador – present at the memorandum signing expressed support for the latest developments, pledging to step up cooperation with the syndicates while simultaneously remaining skeptical that the latest developments will radically improve the situation.

The ability of agencies to firstly detect and then intervene in cases of abuse remains low. Not all agencies are represented by the syndicate, and many operate illegally in contradiction of legislation, such as those which do not provide translators.

“Our sector is divided into two parts: a part that abides by the human rules and regularizations originally connected without any exaggeration, and a smaller part that doesn’t abide by the rules and neglects the simplest human laws,” said Bourji.

Without direct inspections and more stringent government interference, however, there is little that can be done about them, and offending agencies will continue operating in spite of the recent moves.

“Migrant workers, especially those that are employed in the home, remain for us a subject of great concern,” said European Commission (EC) representative Diego Escala Paturel. “Lots of people exploit their vulnerability, making them work for more than 10 hours, without a moment’s rest, such actions which remain unacceptable.”

The EC is supporting the new moves and has previously assisted Caritas by funding various projects including the Caritas Migrant Center, providing basic services to those suffering from abuse, post traumatic stress and other phobias. Moves by other NGOs have also helped improve the situation and migrants are slowly becoming more aware of their rights, while a hotline has also been set up to report abuses. “But we must not rest on our laurels – there is a lot more left to do,” said Paturel.

The EC continues to urge Lebanon to adopt the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families and the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which would help migrants seeking asylum.

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Article in Daily Star-Lebanon: Ministry launches complaints office for migrant workers

June 2, 2010

BEIRUT: Labor Minister Butros Harb announced Tuesday the opening of a complaints office in his ministry along with issuing a guide to inform migrant workers about their rights and obligations.

“I am pleased to tell you that I launched my reform program that will target the administration along with initiating different projects,” the labor minister told reporters.

Harb made his announcement during a news conference he held at the headquarters of the Labor Ministry in the Beirut suburb of Shiyyah.

Among the attendants were representatives of states that have migrant workers in Lebanon along with civil society committees.

Harb disclosed that he launched two initiatives.

“The first one is related to reforming the administration and eradicating corruption along with a quicker processing of citizen’s formalities,” said Harb, as he vowed to support “principled” employees who rejected bribery.

Harb said the second initiative aimed at restoring the reputation of Lebanon at the international level as a state that respected the rights of migrant workers after some media outlets claimed the contrary.

But Harb explained that it was impossible for his ministry to accomplish its social goals and to “enhance the social protection network” of migrant workers if the state did not protect the rights of those workers regardless of their nationality or race.

“I decided today to address the situation in the administration which citizens complained about by opening a complaint office in the ministry that can be contacted via a hotline,” he said.

The minister said that applications to be filled by citizens with complaints would be distributed at all branches and sections of the Labor Ministry.

“They will be asked to file the applications if they encountered a misbehavior, a delay in their formalities or if they were asked to pay a bribe,” said Harb, adding that the form would be mailed to the complaints office.

Harb voiced readiness to receive “oral complaints” through the hotline as well.

He stressed that he would devote extra time every day to examine the forwarded complaints and refer them to the concerned judiciary.

Concerning the guide for migrant workers, Harb said it would be translated into 14 languages and distributed at all airports, seaports and border posts.

“The guide aims to introduce the migrant worker to their rights and obligations along with respecting agreements and international treaties signed by Lebanon,” said Harb.

While many domestic workers in Lebanon are treated with respect, others find themselves trapped in abusive circumstances. Many complain of having their passports confiscated, salaries withheld, or of psychological, sexual or verbal abuse.

“Our people are kind and they respect human rights, but the situation of domestic workers still lacks complementary measures” Harb added.

Also, Harb underlined his ministry’s keenness on protecting the Lebanese from any potential assault by their domestic workers.

“This will take place by checking migrant workers’ mental state, moral credentials and health,” said Harb.

In late April of 2010, an Egyptian national stabbed to death four members from the same family in the Iqleem al-Kharoub village of Ketermaya in Mount Lebanon. The man was later lynched by an angry crowd from the village. –The Daily Star

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Article in Nepalese news.com: Migrant Nepalese celebrate May Day in Lebanon

Nepalese migrant workers in Lebanon celebrated Labour Day, popularly called May Day, for the first time by participating in a rally organised to mark the day.

In Lebanon, the number of Nepalese migrant workers is increasing at a faster rate in recent years.

In the past, many Nepalese were afraid to take part in the protest for fear of retribution by their employers or of being arrested by the police. But this year the Nepalese workers showed their courage, joined the protest and proudly displayed their national flag.

At least nine Nepali migrant workers attended the march this year, including the founder president and chief advisor of the NRNA-Lebanon Dipendra Uprety, current president of the NRNA-Lebanon Dilli Poudel, vice president Mohan Prasai, secretary Nanda Raj Kafle, and members Yang Bahadur Magar, Gita Ghimire, Nita Kafle, Devi Prasad Bimali and Basanti Rai.

The Nepalese migrant workers and all those who took part in the protest hope that demonstrations drew attention on the human rights violations being committed on these workers.

Studies have shown that more than half of all migrant domestic workers in Lebanon work more than 12 hours a day, some as much as 19 hours a day with no additional pay for the extra time they put in. nepalnews.com

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Article in Al Bawaba.com: Workers' rights in Lebanon are compromised, say AUB experts

Neo-liberal economic policies have stripped workers of basic rights and denied them a dignified existence, labor rights experts told an AUB audience.

In the seminar “Workers’ Rights and Entitlements,” held at AUB on May 4, 2010, three panelists shared their experiences of fighting for workers’ rights in Lebanon.

The country had experienced a gradual decline in the recognition of human rights, said Professor Jad Chaaban, assistant professor of economics at the School of Agriculture. He added that more than 70 percent of workers in Lebanon had no health insurance.

In addition, 35 percent work for less than the legal minimum wage and 60 percent had no retirement plan, he said.

Chaaban noted that neither the capitalist nor the communist labor theories had succeeded in completely protecting workers’ rights. “Reality is different from dreams,” he said.

He added that indirect taxes, such as VAT, as well as gasoline and tobacco taxes also adversely affected worker’s economic conditions.

The seminar was organized by AUB’s Human Rights and Peace Club and marked May 1, the day on which Lebanese workers first demanded basic labor rights.

Adib Abou Habib, former president of the Lebanese Union of Labor Syndicates, outlined the significance of May 1 before arguing that it was Lebanon’s precarious political situation which had contributed to a deterioration in working conditions.

He advised that workers join up with labor unions in order to better protect their rights.
Hanna Gharib, president of the Secondary Teachers’ Syndicate (LPESPL), highlighted the effects of Lebanon’s brain-drain, blaming pressure from banking and real-estate for many young people's decision to emigrate.

He also rounded on fast profit and privatization policies, claiming these were the principal factors behind economic decline in Lebanon. Policy-makers also needed to shoulder some blame, Gharib added, as the state had monopoly on economic decisions.

The issue of non-Lebanese workers in Lebanon was raised, with panelists calling on young people to increase their awareness about migrant workers in their country.

Habib urged Lebanese youth, including AUB students, to learn more about labor law in order to protect and defend their rights.

He added that students who went on to become ministers or policy-makers were best placed to reform the current law which continues to deny workers their inalienable rights.

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Lebanon: Filipina maid becomes the first suicide in the New Year

The body of a 28-year-old Filipina worker who arrived in Lebanon several months ago to work as a domestic workers was found dead on the pavement in Beirut’s Sanayeh district on Monday after the woman allegedly jumped from the building of employer.

Reporting from the scene, Al-Akhbar reports, "Crooked hand, with its bottom penetrated by the wrist bone. Fingers looking as if they are about to grab something. A small stream of blood creeping from under the cover transpiring the color of the shroud. Close to that white thing, a bunch of security officers are gathered. On the opposite side, is parked an ambulance, from the firefighters department, on which two men are leaning. As for the location, it was in Georges Assi str., behind the Sanayeh garden. The scene was harsh, with whispers mixed with tears, people from the neighborhood said it's the "body of a maid from the Philippines who jumped from her employer's balcony, Y.H., all the way from the seventh floor." A representative from the Philippines embassy said that she is Maria (born in 1981), a girl who left her homeland, coming to Lebanon two months ago to work as a "maid in a house". He did not know what happened to her. He remains silent for a moment and looks at the hand poking out from under the cover, on his face you can see that he is still under shock, then he utters: "This is the first suicide in this new year."

اليد ملتوية، يخترق أسفلها عظم المعصم. الأصابع تبدو كأنها ستطبق على شيء ما. جدولٌ صغير من الدم وجد طريقه من أسفل ذلك الغطاء الذي يحمل لون الكفن. قرب ذلك الشيء الأبيض، يجتمع عدد من رجال الأمن. وتقف في الجهة المقابلة له، سيارة إسعاف تابعة للدفاع المدني يستند إليها رجُلَان. أما المكان فهو شارع جورج عاصي الكائن خلف حديقة الصنائع.

المشهد كان قاسياً، اختلط الهمس بالدموع، يقول أهل الحي إنها «جثة عاملة فيليبينية قفزت من منزل مخدومها ي. ح. في الطبقة السابعة». ويقول مندوب السفارة الفيليبينية إنها ماريا (مواليد 1981)، فتاة تركت وطنها قاصدة لبنان قبل نحو شهرين لتعمل «خادمة في أحد المنازل». لا يعرف المندوب ماذا جرى لها. يصمت قليلاً وينظر إلى اليد البارزة أسفل ذلك الغطاء، نظرته توحي أنه لم يستفق بعد من هول المنظر، ويتابع: «إنها حالة الانتحار الأولى في العام الجديد».

According to eyewitnesses, the body remained in the streets for several hours before police or rescue workers appeared to investigate and collect the body. "An hour and a half after the incident, which took place at around 1:30PM. Criminal evidence men arrived to the scene and examined the site. But still, the body was not moved, it remained there on the ground for three hours. Al-Akhbar asked a police officer, present on the scene, why the body was left there for so long, his answer was that they are still waiting for the forensic doctor to examine her."

مرّت ساعة ونصف ساعة على الحادث الذي وقع عند حوالى الساعة الواحدة ظهراً. حضر رجال الأدلة الجنائية، وأجروا كشفاً على موقع الحادث. لكن رغم ذلك، لم تُحرّك الجثة من مكانها، بقيت على الأرض لنحو ثلاث ساعات. سألت «الأخبار» ضابطاً في قوى الأمن كان موجوداً في المكان عن سبب ترك الجثة كل هذه المدة، فأجاب بأنهم ينتظرون الطبيب الشرعي ليكشف عليها.

In Lebanon, racism continues to marginalize individuals who come from Africa and Asia to escape poverty and create a better life for their families. The death of this human being seemed to be of no concern for residents in the area as eyewitnesses also reported that some cars even came close to running over the woman's body.

As noted by a comment by a passerby at the scene, "Everyone is still waiting for the forensic doctor. In the meantime, a passerby comments: "Thank God she didn't fall on anyone's car, that would have been a disaster". The forensic doctor is late, and people are speculating about the circumstances of the death. Some cleared the employer, emphasizing his good manors with neighbors, while others whisper that maybe it is ill-treatment that pushed her to "commit suicide". Between the two, some say that she cut her wrists before jumping. The embassy representative declared this was likely to have happened, since he saw blood stains in the bedroom. Three hours later, the forensic doctor arrived, with his bag in the right hand. He took out his camera and got closer to the body. He looked through his lens from above and took a picture of the location of the fall. Then he lifts the cover from the body and flipped it. Maria landed on the ground on her face. Her skull was smashed, and her wrist bone was broken, it seems her hand hit the ground too at the first impact. Paramedics bring stretchers and pick her up. An earring shines on her right ear shines. They cover the body and take it to the car."

لا يزال الجميع ينتظر الطبيب الشرعي. في هذه الأثناء، يمر أحد الأشخاص معلّقاً: «الحمد لله أنها لم تسقط على سيّارة أحدهم»، ويضيف، «كانت عملت بلوي». تأخر الطبيب الشرعي، وكثرت تحليلات الموجودين عن ملابسات الوفاة. بعضهم برّأ صاحب المنزل، مستذكراً أخلاقه الحميدة التي يتعامل بها مع جيرانه، فيما ذهب البعض الآخر همساً إلى احتمال إساءة معاملة الخادمة، ما دفع بها إلى «الانتحار». وبين هذا وذاك، تحدّث البعض عن أنّ الخادمة قطعت شرايين يديها قبل أن تقفز. وقد رجّح هذا الكلام مندوب السفارة الفيليبينية الذي قال إنه رأى بقع دماء في غرفة النوم.

... وبعد ثلاث ساعات، حضر الطبيب الشرعي حاملاً حقيبته بيمناه. أخرج كاميرته واقترب من الجثة. نظر من خلال عدستها إلى الأعلى والتقط صورة لمكان السقوط. ثم رفع الغطاء عن الجثة وقلبها. ماريا سقطت على وجهها مباشرة. تهشّمت جمجمة رأسها، وكُسر معصمها الذي يبدو أنها تلقّت به الأرض. أحضر عاملا الإسعاف الحمّالة وحملاها. لمع قرطٌ ذهبي في أذنها اليمنى. غطّيا الجثة ووضعاها في السيارة.

The recent death marks the first in the New Year in Lebanon, which has a rate of more than one domestic worker death per week, says a 2008 Human Rights Watch report.

Currently there are over 200,000 female migrant domestic workers in Lebanon and the numbers are increasing on a daily basis, which presents the problem of regulating a problem that is widespread throughout Lebanon.

Victims of abuse, confinement and rape are often invisible because they suffer in places that remain hidden to the public’s eye such as in private homes or hotel rooms.

"The death toll last month is clear evidence that the government isn't doing enough to fix the difficult working conditions these women face," Senior Human Rights Researcher Nadim Houry said in a press release. "The government needs to explain why so many women who came to Lebanon to work end up leaving the country in coffins."

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch (HRW) released a statement urging the Lebanese government to investigate the reason why eight migrant domestic workers died during October marking one of the deadliest months of the year.

Four of the deaths were cited as being suicides, three as work related incidences and another as a heart attack due to stress. In a report published in August, HRW said that domestic workers in Lebanon were dying at a rate one per week.

Psychiatrist and Sociologist, Ahmad Ayache, offered these thoughts in an interview with Al-Akhbar as to why there continues to be a high rate of migrant domestic worker deaths, "ill-treatment that some maids endure in Lebanon pushes them to commit suicide." Ayache pointed out that he treats a lot of maids who suffer from depression caused by the fact that they are deprived of their freedom and they are treated badly. The psychotherapist also emphasized that the way they choose to put an end to their days defines the reasons why they did it. He attributed, for example, jumping off of high places to the desire to be free. This is why, the doctor sees that the seizure of domestic workers' freedom is the main reason which causes pressure on them, pushing them to kill themselves to escape.

ذكر الطبيب النفسي والباحث الاجتماعي أحمد عيّاش لـ«الأخبار»، أن «سوء المعاملة الذي تتعرّض له بعض الخادمات في لبنان يدفع بهن الى الانتحار». وأشار عياش الى أنه يعالج العديد من الخادمات اللواتي يعانين من اكتئاب سببه حجز حريتهن وسوء المعاملة. كذلك لفت المعالج النفسي الى أن الأسلوب الذي يختاره المُنتحر يُحدّد أسباب انتحاره. وقد أرجع، على سبيل المثال، اختيار رمي النفس من مكان مرتفع، على أنه رغبة في التحرّر والانعتاق من القيود التي تُكبّل المُنتحر. من هذا المنطلق، رأى الطبيب المذكور أن حجز حريّة عاملات المنازل هو السبب الرئيسي الذي يولّد الضغوط لدى هؤلاء الفتيات، ويدفع بالعديد منهن الى اختيار الانتحار وسيلة الى الهرب.

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Al-Akhbar article: Judge sentences Lebanese woman for abusing her foreign housemaid

المحكمة تعاقب لبنانية ضربت فيليبينية

لها حقوق مثلها مثل العمال اللبنانيين (مروان طحطح)لها حقوق مثلها مثل العمال اللبنانيين (مروان طحطح)في 9/12/2009 صدر حكم عن القاضي المنفرد الجزائي في البترون، قضى بإدانة لبنانية تعرضت بالضرب للعاملة الفيليبينية التي كانت تعمل في منزلها. الحكم لقي ترحيباً من خبراء قانونيين ومناضلين من أجل حماية العاملات الأجنبيات

بيسان طي
سجّل القضاء اللبناني انتصاراً لمصلحة عاملة فيليبينية تعرضت للضرب على يد مستخدميها. أخيراً، التقى صوت المحكمة مع مطالبات ناشطين من أجل حقوق الإنسان في قضية تعرّض خادمات أجنبيات للتعذيب. الحكم الذي سطّره القاضي المنفرد الجزائي في البترون منير سليمان خطوة في مشوار محاربة العنصرية التي يتّسم بها تصرف بعض اللبنانيين وأداؤهم.

الحكم صدر يوم الأربعاء الماضي، وقضى بإدانة المدعى عليها ف. ص. بالجنحة المنصوص عليها في المادة 554 عقوبات وبحبسها مدة 15 يوماً، وبتغريمها مبلغ خمسين ألف ليرة، وبإلزامها أن تدفع للمدعية (أي العاملة الفيليبينية) جونالين ماليباغو مبلغ عشرة ملايين وثمانمئة ألف ليرة بدل عطلها وضررها. كذلك قضى الحكم بردّ سائر الأسباب والمطالب «ولا سيما طلب المدعى عليها الرامي إلى دعوة المدعية وإحضارها من بلدها»، وأخيراً تضمين المدعى عليها ف. ص. نفقات المحاكمة. وما يزيد من أهمية هذا الحكم بالنسبة إلى خبراء قانونيين، أنه صدر مع وجود المدعية خارج البلاد، أي إن القضاء انتصر لعاملة أجنبية بعدما غادرت الأراضي اللبنانية.

القصة تعود إلى عام 2006. خلال حرب تموز أحضرت ف. ص. العاملة التي تعمل في منزلها إلى سفارة الفيليبين في الأشرفية، حيث اجتمعت عاملات من أبناء الجالية خلال حرب تموز، وعُمل على تسفيرهن هرباً من الأوضاع الأمنية السيئة. كانت العاملة جونالين حينها برفقة ف. ص. وابنها المراهق، وكانت حاضرة الشاهدة هـ. أ. التي أدلت بشهادة أكدت فيها أن جونالين تعرضت للضرب.
عند وصول ف. ص. تعرضت للتهجم على يد موظفي السفارة وبعض العاملات، ما استوجب استدعاء القوى الأمنية.

ما سبب الهجوم على السيدة اللبنانية؟ تبيّن أن ف. ص. أقدمت على ضرب العاملة جونالين، ودفعتها لحثّها على السير بسرعة وهي تحمل حقيبتها الخاصة، وقد نُقلت جونالين إلى مستشفى في الأشرفية لمعالجتها بعدما أُغمي عليها، وهي تعاني ظهور بقعٍ سوداء وزرقاء، بعضها أضحى مصفراً حينها، في مختلف أنحاء جسمها. العاملة الفيليبينة قالت إن هذه البقع ظهرت نتيجة تعرضها للضرب المبرّح على يد ف. ص. وزوجها وابنها.

تلفت قراءة نص الحكم أن طبيبين شرعيين، هما ع. ح. و ن. ص. كشفا على جونالين خلال وجودها في المستشفى بناءً على تكليف من النيابة العامة الاستئنافية في بيروت، وأكدا وجود «كدمات في مختلف أنحاء جسم المدعية من دون وجود أي مرض في الدم وفقاً للفحوصات الطبية». وفي تقرير أحد الطبيبين أن العاملة تعاني أيضاً أوجاعاً في فروة الرأس، وأن الكدمات التي تعانيها ناجمة عن صدمات مباشرة.

تقارير طبية...

بدأت جونالين العمل في منزل ف. ص. في شهر شباط 2006، ونقرأ في نص الحكم أن ربة العمل اصطحبت العاملة لديها إلى الطبيب ن. و. وقد ورد في تقريرين أحدهما للطبيب ن. و. والثاني نظمه الطبيب هـ. د. يبينان فيهما رأيهما في الفحوص المخبرية العائدة للمدعية، فورد فيهما أن جونالين تعاني نقصاً في الصفائح الدموية، ما يسبب لها سيلاناً في الدم وظهور بقع حمراء وزرقاء على الجلد
على نحو عفوي. وأضاف أحد الطبيبين أن هذه
نُقلت العاملة إلى مستشفى لمعالجتها بعدما أُغمي عليها، وهي تعاني ظهور بقعٍ سوداء وزرقاء

البقع تظهر دون التعرض لكدمات، وأن العاملة تعاني استعداداً لمرض التلاسيميا. وحين استمعت المحكمة إلى هذا الطبيب بوصفه شاهداً، أكد معاينة جونالين ثلاث مرات «فيما لم يكن جازماً في مسألة ظهور البقع على الجلد بصورة عفوية من دون التعرض للصدم»، فيما قال الطبيب هـ. د. أمام المحكمة إنه «لا يمكن تلك البقع أن تظهر حتى في حالة مرض المدعية، من دون التصادم بأجسام صلبة».

متابعة القضية، وقراءة الحكم الصادر فيها، يلفتان إلى تعمّق القاضي في قراءته، وفي بحث القضية، ليطال هذا البحث، إضافة إلى البعد القانوني والميداني، الجانب العلمي ـــــ الطبي. ففي نص الحكم إحالة إلى مواقع طبية إلكترونية مشهود بكفاءتها، وقد تضمن الحكم توصيفاً علمياً شديد الدقة لإمكان ظهور نقاط قد تتحوّل إلى بقع كالكدمات على الأطراف إذا انخفض معدل الصفائح الدموية بين 15000 و30000 بالملليمتر المكعب. ويلفت الحكم إلى أن هذا لم يكن حال العاملة جونالين، إذ كان معدل الصفائح الدموية لديها 93000 ألف بالملليمتر المكعب «أي ما يجعلها بمنأى عن ظهور النقاط الدموية... والبقع الدموية العضوية». كذلك فإن البقع لم تظهر على الأطراف فقط، بل أيضاً «على الصدر وعلى الظهر وعلى الرأس».

لا يفوت الحكم التنبه إلى أن العاملة الأجنبية عندما تُستدعى للعمل في لبنان تخضع لفحوص مخبرية للتأكد من سلامتها، ولا يُسمح لمن تعاني أمراضاً مؤذية بالعمل فيه.

دقة علمية

يستند الحكم أيضاً إلى تقدير الطبيبين الشرعيين اللذين فحصا جونالين، وقد اتخذت لها صور فوتوغرافية. نقرأ في نص الحكم: «... ثبت للمحكمة أن البقع الظاهرة على جسم المدعية هي كدمات نتيجة المصادمة بأجسام صلبة يُضاف إلى ذلك موقع البقع على الظهر وعلى الصدر والرأس، وإفادة الشاهدة هـ. ا. لتثبت أن هذه المصادمات لم تكن عفوية، بل ناجمة عن أفعال ضرب تعرضت لها المدعية المقيمة بصورة مستمرة لدى المدعى عليها، وأن تقارير الطبيبين و. ود. أتت لتغطية أفعال المدعى عليها ولإبعاد الشبهات عنها».
جونالين عانت خلال إقامتها في منزل إحدى العائلات اللبنانية «ظروفاً إنسانية متردية»، وقد تعرضت «للقسوة... والضرب المبرح على يد ربة عملها... والحطّ من كرامتها الإنسانية وتعرضها للآلام الجسدية وللذل». غادرت العاملة الفيليبينية لبنان في 16/8/2006، حملت ذكريات سيئة ومؤلمة عن أشهر قليلة قضتها في بلاد الأرز. ذهبت ولم تعد. تركت خلفها قضية تُدرس في أروقة المحاكم... بعد ثلاثة أعوام، تغيرت الصورة القاتمة، قد تقرأ جونالين رسالة تحمل الخبر السار: في 9/12/2009 نطق القضاء اللبناني بحكم لمصلحتها.

English translation:

On 9/12/2009, in a criminal court lead by a single judge in Batroun, a Lebanese woman was sentenced for hitting her Filipino maid who was working in her household. Legal experts and migrant workers activists welcomed the ruling.

Baysan Tay

The Lebanese judiciary system achieved a landmark victory for a Filipino worker who has been beaten by her employer. Finally, the legal system joined human rights activist’s demands on the issue of the torture that domestic migrant workers endure. The ruling, made by criminal judge in Batroun, Munir Sleiman, is a step forward in the fight against racism, a characteristic of some Lebanese behavior and actions.

The ruling was issued last Wednesday and convicted the defendant, F. S., was condemned with a minor crime according to Article 554 of the Penal Code. F.S. was sentenced for 15 days in prison and a 50'000 L.L. fine, in addition, she was obliged to pay the plaintiff (i.e. the Filipino worker), Jonalin Malebago, the amount of 10'800'000 L.L. as compensation for the damage inflicted. The Judge also rejected claims made by the defendant specifically the one regarding her request to bring Malebago from her country to Lebanon. And finally, the defendant was obliged to pay for court expenses. What adds to the value of this sentence, according to legal experts, is the fact that the sentence was made after the plaintiff left the Lebanese soil.

The story itself goes back to 2006, during the July war, F.S. brought the worker to the Philippines' embassy in Ashrafieh, where workers gathered during the July war and were being repatriated back to their country, to escape the deteriorating security situation. Jonalin was there along with her employer; the latter's son and the witness H. A. who testified that Jonalin was subjected to beating.

Upon their arrival, embassy employees and some workers attacked F.S., an incident that required the interference of security forces.

Why was the woman attacked? It turns out that F.S. had beaten Jonalin and physically pushed her around to force her to walk fast while carrying the bag with her personal belongings. Jonalin was administered into hospital in Ashrafieh when she lost consciousness, she also suffered black and blue spots, and some had already turned yellow by that time, all over her body. The worker said these spots were the result of extreme physical violence by F.S., her husband and her son.

The reading of the verdict emphasizes two medical reports made by forensic doctors, A.H. and N.S., who examined Jonalin when she was in hospital upon the request of General Appeal Attorney of Beirut. The report confirmed the presence of “bruises in various parts of the body, no blood problem was revealed by the medical examination”. In one of the reports, the doctor mentions that the worker also suffers from pain in the scalp of the head and that the bruises resulted from direct impact.

Medical reports

Jonalin started working in F.S. household in the February 2006. In the reading of the verdict it is mentioned that the employer took her employee to the doctor N.W. and in two medical reports, one of them made by N.W. and the other by H.D, it is stated that Jonalin suffers from blood platelets deficiency, resulting in bleeding and spontaneous red and blue spots on her skin. One of the reports added that these spots appear even in the absence of violence. It is also mentioned that Jonalin has a predisposition to thalassemia. When summoned to court as a witness, the doctor confirmed examining Jonalin three times but “was not conclusive as to whether these spots could appear spontaneously without being subjected to physical violence. Whereas H.D. confirmed that, even if the plaintiff suffered from the aforementioned illness, it is impossible to develop these spots without any contact with solid objects”.

Following the case and with a closer look to the verdict reading, one can only notice the depth with which the judge dealt with the case, with research touching on the scientific/medical aspect, as well as the legal aspect. The verdict reading also includes citations from reliable online medical references. The reading provides accurate scientific information about the possible appearance of spontaneous spots on the extremities if the level of blood platelets is between 15'000 and 30'000 platelets/ml³. Adding that this was not the case with Jonalin who had an average of 93'000 platelets/ml³, which means she would not have these pigmentations... and organic blood spots”. In addition, these spots did not appear on the extremities only, but also “on the chest, back and head”.

It also did not escape the Judge's vigilance that any migrant worker coming to Lebanon to work is subjected to thorough medical examination to ensure her safety, anyone with serious illnesses is not allowed to work.

Scientific accuracy

The verdict is also based on the opinion of the two forensic doctors who examined Jonalin upon her admission to hospital, with supporting pictures, in the verdict we read: “... it was proven to the court that the spots evident on the body of the plaintiff are bruises resulting from physical impact with solid objects. The location of these spots, on the chest and the head as well as the testimony of the witness, H.A, come to prove this impact was not spontaneous, but a result of acts of beating that the plaintiff endured while living on a regular basis at the defendant's place. The medical reports made by N.W. and H.D. came as a cover for the defendant's actions and keep her away from suspicions”.

During her stay in a Lebanese household, Jonalin endured “deplorable human conditions”, she was subjected to “cruelty... severe beating on the hands of her employer... physical violence and humiliation”. The Filipino worker left Lebanon on 16/8/2009, carrying with her bad memories of the Cedar Land. She left and never came back. Leaving behind her a case to be studied in court... Three years later, the grim image has changed, Jonalin might soon read the great news in a letter: In 9/12/2009 the Lebanese legal system spoke in her favor.

A progressive and deterring step against violations

Nadim Houry, researcher at the Human Rights Watch, regards the ruling of Judge Munir Sleiman as “a very important and progressive step, indicating that the Lebanese judicial system can fulfill an important role in the protection of migrant workers' rights”. Houry, who issued a statement which certified that the month of October was a bloody month for foreign workers”, said in an interview with Al-Akhbar that it is “required from the judicial system to play a direct and broad role in the case of migrant workers, so that the sentences made become a deterring factor for abuse exercised against domestic workers in the future”. He also mentioned several barriers preventing domestic workers from pressing charges against their employers, including the high cost and the long duration of procedures required by the investigation on various issues. Finally, it is worth mentioning that the minister of interior, Ziad Baroud, said that his ministry intends to take action, and that «in full respect for human rights, and that the General Security will follow-up cases in coordination with the judicial system to facilitate the repatriation process».

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