Lebanese employer convicted for abusing OFW

MANILA, Philippines - A Lebanese employer was convicted for abusing a Filipino domestic worker, the first conviction for employee abuse in the Middle Eastern country, the Philippine embassy in Beirut reported.

Fayrouz Farez was sentenced on Dec. 9 to 15 days imprisonment and ordered to pay $34 in court fines, and $7,200 in compensation to OFW Johnalyn Malibago.

Chargé d’Affaires Mohd Noordin Pendosina Lomondot said the court decision made legal history, setting a precedent for future labor cases.

“The embassy views this case as an important legal precedent in Lebanon, being the first conviction of a Lebanese employer for the abusive treatment of a migrant worker, who significantly happened to be a Filipino,” Lomondot said.

During the Israel-Lebanon War in 2006, Malibago escaped from Farez and was taken into the custody of the Overseas Worker Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Beirut.

Thousands of Filipino workers were repatriated at the height of the 34-day armed conflict between the Hezbollah militants and the Israeli military.

Welfare officer Mario Antonio said when Malibago was brought to a hospital, it was discovered that her body was covered with bruises.

The embassy sought the help of Caritas Migrant Center, a non-government organization specializing in the welfare of migrant workers, in filing and pursuing the case against Farez. 

Lomondot said the court decision convicting Farez affirms the recognition of migrant worker rights in Lebanon.

“It also serves to affirm that many Lebanese are working hard for the recognition and protection of the rights of migrant workers, and that the efforts of human rights groups have begun to take effect in Lebanon’s judiciary,” Lomondot said.

The deployment ban on Lebanon stays pending the approval of laws to protect migrant workers.

In a radio interview yesterday, Philippine Ambassador to Lebanon Gilberto Asuque said the Philippines is still waiting for Lebanon to approve a law on the protection of foreign workers.

“There is no law protecting Filipinos in Lebanon. Their labor laws only benefit the Lebanese. They saw that they are lacking in that area so there are now proposals to create a law for the protection of migrant workers. We will let Lebanon work on that internal matter,” Asuque said in Filipino. 

Last June, the Philippines invited the Lebanese government to send representatives for a second round of talks in the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Labor Cooperation aimed at protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of Filipino workers in Lebanon.  

The two countries are also negotiating the Protocol on Household Service Workers.

At least 236 Filipino workers in Lebanon were repatriated from January to October this year.