Combating trafficking in women for labor purposes and establishing state responsibility under international law: the plight of Ethiopian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia

Combating trafficking in women for labor purposes and establishing state responsibility under international law: the plight of Ethiopian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia

Combating trafficking in women for labor purposes and establishing state responsibility under international law: the plight of Ethiopian migrant domestic workers in Saudi Arabia

The research explores the protections provided for migrant domestic workers who are highly undervalued and often exposed to trafficking, despite comprising an integral part of the labour force worldwide. Saudi Arabia is a focus destination country for the study. Despite its high demand for household help, the Saudi Arabia national labour law excludes domestic workers and follows a strict sponsorship system that gives immense power to the employer, allowing for possible abuse of power. The study of Ethiopia as a migrant sending country is also important due to the myriad number of children and women migrating to Saudi Arabia on a yearly basis, at the risk of exposure to trafficking.