In the area of social integration of migrants, little progress was made as regards migrant domestic workers that are excluded from the labour laws and often face exploitation and abuse by their employers. A National Steering Committee chaired by the Ministry of Labour was active with little tangible results. Cases of frequent mistreatment and high rate of unnatural fatalities amongst domestic workers were reported. The conditions in the temporary detention centre for refugees at Adlieh remain extremely poor, despite the efforts undertaken by NGOs and General Security to improve the situation and decrease the number of detainees.
Nevertheless the Ministry of Labour passed a decree after the reporting period, in January 2009, with the aim of regulating the employment agencies that bring migrant domestic help to Lebanon. The decree has been followed by the adoption of a Unified Contract for Migrant Domestic Workers. In the area of asylum and protection of refugees progress made is insufficient. The overall situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon1, more or less 400 000 registered at UNRWA, remained unchanged throughout the reporting period. Initial progress noted at the beginning of 2008 on regularisation of the status of “non-identified” refugees of Palestinian origin has been halted. The Palestinian refugees’ right to work and register property is not secured, which has negative implications for their welfare and security.
Since Lebanon has not ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention, refugees and asylum seekers (mostly Iraqis, Sudanese and Kurds) do not receive any protection, except for those few who are temporarily recognised by UNHCR (3000). The vast majority of the 50 000 Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon (UNRWA estimates), are treated as illegal immigrants and a small number have been subject to arrest (140 in 2008 according to UNHCR), fines, and indefinite detention.
Nevertheless the Ministry of Labour passed a decree after the reporting period, in January 2009, with the aim of regulating the employment agencies that bring migrant domestic help to Lebanon. The decree has been followed by the adoption of a Unified Contract for Migrant Domestic Workers. In the area of asylum and protection of refugees progress made is insufficient. The overall situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon1, more or less 400 000 registered at UNRWA, remained unchanged throughout the reporting period. Initial progress noted at the beginning of 2008 on regularisation of the status of “non-identified” refugees of Palestinian origin has been halted. The Palestinian refugees’ right to work and register property is not secured, which has negative implications for their welfare and security.
Since Lebanon has not ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention, refugees and asylum seekers (mostly Iraqis, Sudanese and Kurds) do not receive any protection, except for those few who are temporarily recognised by UNHCR (3000). The vast majority of the 50 000 Iraqi refugees living in Lebanon (UNRWA estimates), are treated as illegal immigrants and a small number have been subject to arrest (140 in 2008 according to UNHCR), fines, and indefinite detention.
