Domestic workers are one of the communities least protected by existing laws and one of the most vulnerable to exploitation in the world. We have documented an array of systemic and widespread abusive practices against Sierra Leonean women domestic workers in Oman that begin in the recruitment process and continue in their host country. 

This report identifies widespread abusive practices, policy gaps, and questions the effectiveness of current systems. Throughout a 22 month project, we organised 656 Sierra Leonean women domestic workers into one community, had conversations with 390 women, received 621 survey entries and verified 469 of these surveys. In this research, we document a thriving human trafficking business and widespread, normalised and accepted practices that indicate forced labour. 

We identified 468 out of 469 (99.8%) women  as victims of human trafficking, women who reported experiences consistent with human trafficking as defined by the Palermo Protocol. In addition, the vast majority of women reported working conditions consistent with forced labour indicators. We found that most Sierra Leonean women domestic workers experienced deceptive recruitment (78%), long working hours (80% worked between 16 and 20 hours a day and 99% had no day off), restriction of movement (91%), and discrimination (77%). More than half of them experienced wage theft (60%) and physical abuse (57%) and approximately one-third of them experienced sexual abuse (27%).

To our knowledge, this research has created one of the largest data sets on domestic workers in the Gulf, and it is the first to investigate the journey of a woman migrant domestic worker from recruitment to repatriation using real-time and near real-time data (RT & NRT data). We also believe that this study is the first to combine research with support activities on the ground, revealing and addressing human trafficking, forced labour and other forms of abuse among Sierra Leoneans in Oman, and demonstrating the positive impact of justice-based interventions.  

This report exposes, accurately and meaningfully, the harsh realities of the lives of domestic workers to those who have the power to change systems, policies and practices. We intend to spotlight the stories of these women, as told by them, to remind us that there are real lives and countless untold stories behind these numbers and percentages. 

The efforts and impacts of this project have been highlighted on a podcast by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and in an article by The Guardian. The project was also a finalist for the 2021 .Org Impact Awards, and has been named a finalist project for the World Justice Challenge 2022 under the Access to Justice category.

Other challenges we shed light on include the problems that come with “absconding” charges, paying “release money”, and the inability of workers to access a grievance mechanism or other protective measures. This report also details the migration process from the drivers of migration and recruitment process in Sierra Leone, to working and living experiences in Oman, to the repatriation process – including during the COVID-19 crisis. In addition, it details the process by which the vast majority of these women became trapped in Oman, unable to seek redress, support or remedy for the wrongdoings perpetrated against them. 

Our findings also shed light on the conflict between policies and efforts to address human trafficking. A prime example of this conflict is the relationship between “absconding” charges and forced labour: if the requirement for employers to file “absconding” charges continues to be enforced, forced labour will prevail and identification of victims of human trafficking will continue to be hindered. In addition, the findings show the interconnectedness of issues, for example: how grievance mechanisms are only effective when they are accessible to all – regardless of legal status. And while we also found positive efforts to prevent and address these issues, such efforts are still minimal.

Through the analysis of our findings, we make ‌23 recommendations for strengthening, improving, abolishing, or putting in place policies and systems to prevent and address human trafficking and forced labour. These are directed to both the governments of Oman and Sierra Leone. Recognising the complexity of these social problems, we have considered how these intersect with issues of fundamental rights, inequality and discrimination, gender-based violence and migration. The recommendations listed try to address root causes and system gaps identified with the aim that meaningful change will take place.