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Nepalese women torn between slavery in Lebanon and poverty at home Nepalese women torn between slavery in Lebanon and poverty at home
(3 days later)
When the 39 Nepalese migrant domestic workers spilled out of the arrivals gate at Kathmandu airport last month, many vowed to return to the country in which they had experienced terrible hardship. Some had been beaten and forced to endure slave-like conditions; the majority had been trafficked.When the 39 Nepalese migrant domestic workers spilled out of the arrivals gate at Kathmandu airport last month, many vowed to return to the country in which they had experienced terrible hardship. Some had been beaten and forced to endure slave-like conditions; the majority had been trafficked.
For years, the women lived illegally in Lebanon, with no means to return home after fleeing abusive employers. The country's stringent kafala system, which binds migrant staff to their boss, meant that when the women escaped, they lost everything: their legal status, passports and wages.For years, the women lived illegally in Lebanon, with no means to return home after fleeing abusive employers. The country's stringent kafala system, which binds migrant staff to their boss, meant that when the women escaped, they lost everything: their legal status, passports and wages.
It was only with the help of a local association, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as well as the Nepali embassy in Egypt (Nepal does not have an embassy in Lebanon), that the women were eventually able to return to home.It was only with the help of a local association, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as well as the Nepali embassy in Egypt (Nepal does not have an embassy in Lebanon), that the women were eventually able to return to home.
There are an estimated 12,000 Nepalese migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Many suffer harrowing conditions, according to a report published this week by Anti-Slavery International. Almost half of employers never give domestic staff a day off; a third of workers say they are locked in the house when their employer goes out, the report says.There are an estimated 12,000 Nepalese migrant domestic workers in Lebanon. Many suffer harrowing conditions, according to a report published this week by Anti-Slavery International. Almost half of employers never give domestic staff a day off; a third of workers say they are locked in the house when their employer goes out, the report says.
"My madam used to scold me for nothing. I was forced to work all the time, yet madam was never happy. She even asked her husband to beat me. I was often beaten with sticks," says Anita Niraula, 27, who was one of the group recently returned to Nepal."My madam used to scold me for nothing. I was forced to work all the time, yet madam was never happy. She even asked her husband to beat me. I was often beaten with sticks," says Anita Niraula, 27, who was one of the group recently returned to Nepal.
Niraula arrived in Lebanon in 2009. She had agreed to work for $150 (£89) a month in order to support her family. But after two years of abuse, she ran away, leaving behind her passport, which her employer had confiscated, and $1,800 of unpaid wages.Niraula arrived in Lebanon in 2009. She had agreed to work for $150 (£89) a month in order to support her family. But after two years of abuse, she ran away, leaving behind her passport, which her employer had confiscated, and $1,800 of unpaid wages.
But, like hundreds of Nepalese women in Lebanon, Niraula found that by working illegally in the informal sector, she could earn 10 times what she made as a domestic worker. "Part-time work, though it was illegal, was much easier and [came with] a good salary," she says. "I used to earn almost $1,500 a month during the summer season working for various houses, and in winter $600-700."But, like hundreds of Nepalese women in Lebanon, Niraula found that by working illegally in the informal sector, she could earn 10 times what she made as a domestic worker. "Part-time work, though it was illegal, was much easier and [came with] a good salary," she says. "I used to earn almost $1,500 a month during the summer season working for various houses, and in winter $600-700."
Two years after arriving in Lebanon, Niraula was finally able to pay her debts and support her family. But it came at a price. As an undocumented worker, cut adrift from her employer and without a passport, she had no means of getting home.Two years after arriving in Lebanon, Niraula was finally able to pay her debts and support her family. But it came at a price. As an undocumented worker, cut adrift from her employer and without a passport, she had no means of getting home.
"After working for so many years, I felt that I should return home at least once. I was missing my children. How are they? How much have they grown? Have they been fed properly or not?" she says. "It was for their future that I was in Lebanon. Now I have earned some money, paid back my loans and bought a piece of land in the village.""After working for so many years, I felt that I should return home at least once. I was missing my children. How are they? How much have they grown? Have they been fed properly or not?" she says. "It was for their future that I was in Lebanon. Now I have earned some money, paid back my loans and bought a piece of land in the village."
Niraula tried several times to return to Nepal without her passport – even attempting to bribe a police officer to help her – before she heard about the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Lebanon. The organisation helped Niraula get her and the other women to a safe house and the IOM and the Nepalese government helped get them repatriated.Niraula tried several times to return to Nepal without her passport – even attempting to bribe a police officer to help her – before she heard about the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Lebanon. The organisation helped Niraula get her and the other women to a safe house and the IOM and the Nepalese government helped get them repatriated.
But when Niraula was reunited with her family, she discovered jobs in Nepal were scarce and there was no way she could earn enough to make a decent living.But when Niraula was reunited with her family, she discovered jobs in Nepal were scarce and there was no way she could earn enough to make a decent living.
"I want to go back to Lebanon. There is nothing here in Nepal. I do want to live with my husband and children, but the problem is how will I secure my children's future?" she says. "I am very confident if I go back to Lebanon then I can find my way out – no one can cheat me as I know how things work there.""I want to go back to Lebanon. There is nothing here in Nepal. I do want to live with my husband and children, but the problem is how will I secure my children's future?" she says. "I am very confident if I go back to Lebanon then I can find my way out – no one can cheat me as I know how things work there."
The fact that many women long to return to the country where they experienced so much suffering is partly a reflection of the lack of job opportunities in Nepal, but it is also a pragmatic decision based on sound financial reasoning.The fact that many women long to return to the country where they experienced so much suffering is partly a reflection of the lack of job opportunities in Nepal, but it is also a pragmatic decision based on sound financial reasoning.
"They know the system and [recruitment] brokers and can find a job," says Manju Gurung, chair of Pourakhi, an organisation which advocates for the rights of Nepalese women migrants. "They can earn between $1,200 to $3,000 a month [working illegally], but in a private home they can only earn $100 to $150. Some leave not because of abuse, but for the chance to earn more money. They speak the language, they know the rules and regulations, it's easy to adjust.""They know the system and [recruitment] brokers and can find a job," says Manju Gurung, chair of Pourakhi, an organisation which advocates for the rights of Nepalese women migrants. "They can earn between $1,200 to $3,000 a month [working illegally], but in a private home they can only earn $100 to $150. Some leave not because of abuse, but for the chance to earn more money. They speak the language, they know the rules and regulations, it's easy to adjust."
When they returned to Kathmandu, 12 of the 39 women who left Lebanon initially stayed at a shelter run by Pourakhi. According to Gurung, all 12 planned to return to Lebanon, probably doing so illegally via India because they did not have passports. When they returned to Kathmandu, 12 of the 39 women who left Lebanon initially stayed at a shelter run by Pourakhi. According to Gurung, all 12 planned to return to Lebanon, probably doing so illegally because the Nepalese government has banned women under 30 traveling to the country and has put a temporary ban on anyone traveling abroad for domestic work.
Bishnu Maya Kumal, 40, is one of the 12 women hoping to return to Lebanon. The widow, who has four children, was forced to work for 18 hours a day, seven days a week when she first moved to Lebanon. But after three years she could take it no more, and ran away to find part-time work.Bishnu Maya Kumal, 40, is one of the 12 women hoping to return to Lebanon. The widow, who has four children, was forced to work for 18 hours a day, seven days a week when she first moved to Lebanon. But after three years she could take it no more, and ran away to find part-time work.
"The part-time job was much easier than at the house. After all expenses I used to save almost 40,000 rupees per month (£237), and even more sometimes," says Kumal. "Now I have managed to build a small house and bought a piece of land for my children … I should also look to the future and at least save some money… I cannot do anything here to earn money … I know the language, culture and places, so I want to go back to Lebanon again.""The part-time job was much easier than at the house. After all expenses I used to save almost 40,000 rupees per month (£237), and even more sometimes," says Kumal. "Now I have managed to build a small house and bought a piece of land for my children … I should also look to the future and at least save some money… I cannot do anything here to earn money … I know the language, culture and places, so I want to go back to Lebanon again."
According to Audrey Guichon of Anti-Slavery International, this is not a decision migrant workers should have to make. "The choice in Lebanon should not be between low-paid, and too often unpaid, legal work, and better paid illegal work," she said. "If the Lebanese system guaranteed that women were paid well and treated fairly in the first place, they wouldn't be forced to live illegally in order to make a living."According to Audrey Guichon of Anti-Slavery International, this is not a decision migrant workers should have to make. "The choice in Lebanon should not be between low-paid, and too often unpaid, legal work, and better paid illegal work," she said. "If the Lebanese system guaranteed that women were paid well and treated fairly in the first place, they wouldn't be forced to live illegally in order to make a living."
• Names have been changed.• Names have been changed.
Additional reporting by Ishwar Tauniyar. Additional reporting by Ishwar Rauniyar.
• This article was amended on 12 May 2014. In paragraph 15 we wrote that the women would return to Lebanon illegally via India because they did not hold passports. This sentence has been amended. We also amended the name of the reporter who helped with additional research.