Domestic service in Lebanon : a brief history

The brochure provides a synopsis of the norms and historical context for domestic workers in Lebanon: “One notable effect of the transition to migrant domestic labor is eradication of child domestic labor in Lebanon. Prior to the civil war (1975) an Arab domestic worker could enter the Lebanese household as a child from as young as 8 years of age.” Asians from Sri Lanka and the Philippines currently provide supply for domestic servitude. One of the benefits is that without passports, "they can’t run away." It became shameful (‘aib) for a Lebanese woman to work as a maid, undermining her marriageability