Caritas Demands Help For Migrant Workers

Migrant workers, especially women employed in private homes, need more protection from abuse and exploitation, said Caritas Internationalis, the Vatican-based international umbrella organization for Catholic direct service and relief groups. In a statement on March 5, Caritas urged increased protections for migrants working as maids, nannies and caregivers, saying they often risk exploitation and trafficking. Migrants employed for domestic work rarely benefit from any legal protection in their workplaces, usually private homes, where abuse is difficult to detect. Domestic workers should have the same legal protection in the workplace as other workers do, Caritas said. “Apart from the risk of abuse, domestic workers may have no social security protection, can be overworked and underpaid,” said Martina Liebsch, director of policy for Caritas Internationalis. “Many fear their employers’ reprisals if they complain to the authorities and thus continue to live as modern-day slaves,” she said.