Along with 94 other Ethiopian domestic workers, she returned to Ethiopia last week after being separated from her family for two years. Like many Ethiopian women in Lebanon hired as domestic workers, Gifeto was mistreated under the country’s discriminatory kafala system, or indentured servitude, that ties an employee’s legal status to their employer. The kafala system, also prevalent in Saudia Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman, is known for taking advantage of domestic workers from countries around the world. Many domestic workers have also been rendered homeless, dropped off outside of their consulates by employers no longer able to afford their salaries. For Ethiopian domestic workers, their best bet for return is through small organizations with limited budgets, like Egna Legna Besidet.

Source: Ethiopian News September 24, 2020 14:48 UTC