INFORMATION FOR GHANAIAN MIGRANTS AND TRAVELLERS TO THE MIDDLE EAST
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) from its statistics has indicated that migrants in the Middle East Region are concentrated in Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates also have a significant number of migrants. These migrants sometimes face various forms of abuse.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wishes to inform the general public and those intending to travel as domestic workers, that before embarking on a trip to any of the above-mentioned countries, they should take note of the under listed;
- equip themselves with relevant information on the designated countries particularly on climate, culture, labor laws, contents of their working contracts, language of instruction etc.
- know where to go, who to call, where to find assistance when in trouble.
- have information on location of available shelters to cater for women, men, children etc.
- be ready to be assisted to return to Ghana voluntarily.
- have information on the contact numbers of agencies (state and non-state actors) when assistance is needed.
Information kits with contact details of various shelters and useful institutions in these countries have been made available for the benefit of travellers. These information kits are available at the airports, the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Embassies and Consulates.
Ghanaian migrants are hereby advised to contact the relevant Ghana Missions and diaspora desk officers and other relevant institutions in the selected Middle East countries when in distress, to obtain the necessary assistance.
Attached are the contact details of Ghana Missions and diaspora desk officers and other relevant institutions.
IRAQ
| Iraqi Governments
|
Assisted Return
Shelter- females only. Staff trained on psycho- social counseling, medical care to victims and legal support |
Baghdad |
| Kurdistan Regional Governments
|
Temporary shelters
Hot-lines for emergency assistance Directorate to combat Violence Against Women
Kurdistan Women’s Union |
Erbil
Erbil Tel: 066-256-7272/0750-759-8172 Slemani Tel: 199 Asiacell only
Duhok Tel: 062-165 Erbil, Tel: 0750-464-9393/0750-382-5353 |
| Ministry of Health | Medical and Psychological assistance
|
Provincial health facilities |
| Ministry of Interior
Anti- trafficking department
|
Hotline | Tel: 533 |
| Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs | Hotline
|
Tel: 116
|
|
International Organization for Migration
|
Health centers for migrants, Internally Displaced Persons (in camps), presence outside of campus
Assisted return, rescue/ removal in coordination with government |
Main Office in Baghdad, UNAMI Compound (Diwan 2), International Zone
Tel: +3908 2105 2600, +964 751 740 6872 Email: iomiraq@iom.int Twitter: @IOMIraq, Facebook: www.facebook.com/iomiraqmission
|
| Asuda for Combating Violences against Women
|
Listed by several trafficking directories as operating a counter trafficking hotline | Slemani, Malik Mahmud Ring Road, Sherko Bekas Street
Tel: +964 53 318 3149 Email: info@asuda.krd, Facebook: https:/www.facebook.com/asudakurdistan/ |
KUWAIT
| Institution | Type of service | contact info |
| Ghana Embassy in Kuwait
|
Provision of Travel Documents | Hateen Block 3,
Street 311, Villa 34 Tel: + (965) 25237235 Email: ghanaemkuwait@gmail.com, kuwait@mfa.gov.gh Desk Officer: Mr. Emmanuel Hol- Oduro |
| Ministry of Interior,
Administration of Domestic Labor |
To file a formal complaint with the General Department of Residency Affairs
Repatriation and transition assistance, funding of assisted return (can be in coordination with other actors, ie. International Organization for Migration) |
Al- Dajeej, Kuwait
Tel: +96525582226/ +96525582204 |
| Ministry of Interior, Public Moral Protection and Anti Human Trafficking Department
General Police |
Investigates human trafficking claims, provides protection (both to victims and witnesses) nd executes arrests of trafficking offenders. To be contacted in cases where trafficking victims cannot leave the employer’s home
Hotline: (for emergencies only) |
Hawally governorate- Al Slamiya,
Building of General Department of Criminal Investigations, (at Al Jawazat roundabout) Tel: +96525650690/ +96525650695 Email: Ath@moi.gov.kw
Tel: 112 |
| Public Authority for Manpower | To file complaints through the complaints and redress systems | Al Farawania governorate- Al Dhajeej zone, (opposite Public administration for criminal evidences, and Kuwait Airways)
Tel: +96525359232, +96525359232 Email www.pam.kw@gmail.com website http://www.manpower.gov.kw/ |
| Kuwait Shelter for Expatriates | Capacity of up to 500 females. 24 hour clinic, food, legal support (through the Humanitarian Foundation for Legal Aid) | Location: Al Farawania governorate, Jaleeb Al- Shuyoukh, Block 2, Street 139, (map) |
| ( female migrant domestic workers who leave the employers’ home) | Migrants cannot be forcefully deported. For assisted return, employers or recruitment agencies bear the costs. If they are unable to pay deportation will be carried out through the Deportation Department and the employer blacklisted until the amount is refunded. | Contact person: Mr. Aly Al Muteiry- Head of Shelter |
| International Organization for Migration | Assisted return, rescue/ removal in coordination with government | Slemiya,
Tel: +965 2 530 8000/ +965 25 30 81 64, fax: +965. 2 539 93 54, Email: iereiqat@iom.int |
| Humanitarian Foundation for Legal Aid | Charity that offers pro- bono legal assistance for individuals arrested and awaiting deportation, with efforts to establish a presence inside the deportation prison.
Services cover the six countries, 65 police stations and 5 courthouses including Public Prosecution Departments. |
Main office: Chamber of Commerce Bldg., 1st Floor, Kuwait City P. O Box 26161, safat, Kuwait City, 13122
Tel: +(965)- 1802-234/ +(965)- 2243-9790/1 Fax: =(965)-2242- 2895
|
| Kuwait Social Work Society | Negotiates with detention centers and government shelter services to transfer workers from the former to the latter if the workers’ documentation is in order. SWS has a;so managed to reach out to Embassies in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi through use of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs diplomatic pouch to send migrant worker case files for travel documents to be processed. This is for migrant workers who have no country of origin representation in Kuwait such as in the case for Ghana. Sometimes assisted returns are funded through donations. | Hawally governorate, Mishref- House 4, Block 4, Street 4,m4
Tel: +96525735032 Tel: +96525375031 Email: info@sws.org.kw Website: http://sws.org.kw/ |
| Kuwait Society for Human Rights | Hotline for labor inquiries | 22215150
Interractive website: http://togetherkw.org/index.html |
LEBANON
| Stakeholder | Type of service | Contact Information |
| Ghanaian Honorary Consulate General | Provision of Travel Documents
Mediation |
|
| Ministry of Interior- Directorate General Security- Foreigners Service: | To be contacted within 48 hours in cases where migrant workers have been exposed to physical, emotional or sexual harassment
Hotline |
|
| Ministry of Labor
Department of Foreign Labor Force: |
Authorizes work permits
Hotline (female domestic workers)
|
Tel: 00961- 556829
1740 |
| Internal Security Forces: | Hotline (To be contacted within 24 hours in emergencies) | 112 |
| International Organization for Migration | Assisted returns, rescue/ removal in coordination with govrnment | Near Rafic Hariri General Hospital, Moubarak Builing,
Jnah, Tel:+961 1 841 701, Fax: Email, 705 841 1 961 +:iombeirut@iom.int |
| Caritas Lebanon Migrant Centre | Main shelter services for Lebanon, receive referrals from the government based on a Memorandum of Understanding and from various embassies. Asafe house specific to victims of trafficking can fit up to 80 persons. Services include medical, humanitarian, legal, psychological, assisted return, vocational training including certification such as in computer skills to facilitate job searches and reintegration through partners in countries of origin. Once migrant workers enter the shelter they are no longer considered in conflict with the law (secured in the sense of irregular status) | Sin El Fil, Beirut
Tel: 00961- 76555335 (hotline)/ 00961- 3-092538/ 00961-1-502550 (up until 54) extension 4000. Email: info@caritas.org.lb, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Carit as LebanonMigrantCenter/Caritas Liban |
| Kafa: | Legal counseling and representation for female victims of sex trafficking and migrant domestic workers victims of physical and sexual abuse or labor trafficking. Shelter for15-17 victims of exploitation and trafficking.
Holistic services including social and legal follow-up, basic health services, life skills, awareness, outings and empowerment are covered within shelter. Otherwise referral to other service providers. Safe return assistance, negotiates with employers to cover flights or else they cover it. Provide small amount of cash assistance to the worker and try to connect them with civil society in country of origin. |
43, Beydoun Building, 1st Floor,
Badaro St., Beirut, Tel:+96176090910/ +961-1-392220/ Email:kafa2kafa.org.lb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kafal.1b/ |
SAUDI ARABIA
| Stakeholder | Type of service | Contact Info |
| Ghanaian Consulate General | Provision of Travel Documents Mediation | jabal Al-Thawr Street Behind Al- jazeerah Hospital, Villa No. 11, Musharrafh District,
P.O.Box 1657 Jeddah 21441 Tel: +966 126601429 Email: gha.consge_jed@yahoo.com |
| Ghanaian Embassy | Provision Travel Documents Mediation | Mashoor Bin Abdul Aziz Street, 11693,Riyadh
Tel: +966 114545126 Fax: (+966) (12) 6622559 Email: info@ghanaembassyksa.com |
| Government
|
Welfare centers that generally provide education services, psychosocial health and shelther
10 welfare centers for female domestic workers- some may be victims of trafficking
1 for male domestic workers |
100 welfare center(capacity 230) in Riyadh (translation, rehabilitation, immigration an passport services, legal assistance) (N/A)
N/A |
| National Hotline for domestic violence victims | Tel: 8001245005 | |
| Ministry of Labor and Social Development | Musaned: A bilingual (Arabic, English) website with a section on complaints and disputes that aims to facilitate procedures around recruitment of domestic workers and increase protection of the rights of all parties. | Call center (official channel to receive complaints): 19911 or 920002866 or through the labor offices. |
| Government Labour Offices (pinned location maps available)
|
General service Center
Makkah Labor Office
Al-Amir Metea
Al-Adama District
El Rawdah District
Al Shifa Branch
Main Branch |
Makkah Jeddah Highway, Al-Shamisi Center,
Tel: 125616700 Email: abaalharbi@mol.mail.com
Mecca Tel. 0125435814/0125435804 Email: ralqorashi@mlsd.gov.sa
Al-Amir Metea Street, (behind Talal Keteb Polyclinic), Mecca Tel: 6935058/6934816/6934786/6938684 Email: bij@mol.gov.sa
Al-Adama district, Al-Mustashfa (hospital) Street, Dammam Tel: 0505825510 Email: talmadani@mlsd.gov.sa
Exit 13 khurais Rd.,El Rawdah district, Khaleb ibn al- Walid street- Women branch recruitment, Riyah Tel: 0112548622 Email: hbinsharfan@mlsd.gov.sa
Al Shifa Branch, Diab Road, facing the precious civil defense building, Al Hizem , Riyah
Sahaba Street –Exit 9-Al Yarmouk, Riyadh
|
| Al Nafl Labor Office District Branch
Al Idari District
King Fahd Road
King Fahd Road
Prince Muhammad bin Nasser Road
Al-Faisaliah District
ARAMCO
Abdullah Bin Abudlaziz Street |
Abu Bakr Al Siddikh Road, Riyadh
Behind Al Jouf, Sakka, Tel: 0146241766 Email: hania@misd.gov.sa
King Fahd Road (50) opposite the Eid Chape3l, Tabuk Email: analanzi@mlsd.gov.sa
King Fahd Road, Abha Tel: 172265591 Email: falageeli@!mlsd.gov.sa
Prince Muhammad bin Nasser Road near Jizan District Police Directorate and Sharia court complex opposite the chamber of commerce , Jizan Tel; 173224544 Email: rorjiz@mlsd.gov.sa
Al-Faisaliah District, Najran, Tel: 175235517 Email: nalsherman@mlsd.gov.sa
ARAMCO Recruitment Office, Dhahran Tel: 138772962 Email: talmadani@mlsd.gov.sa
Abdullah Bin Abudlaziz Street, Rafha, Email: malshammari@mlsd.gov.sa |
USEFUL CONTACT OF SELECTED INSTITUTIONS IN GHANA
International Organisation for Migration– Ghana Mission
Telephone (Office): +233 302 742930
Telephone (AVR Cellular): + 233 050 1295271, +233 (0)505 157 9799
WhatsApp: +233 (0)50 1295271, +233 (0)505 157 97 99
E-mail address: info@iom.int
Ghana Immigration Service
Migration Management Bureau- Headquarters
Telephone (office): +233 (0) 266 680 779