Saturday, the Syndicate of Recruitment Agencies of Non-Jordanian Domestic Workers said that reports claiming that one of its members was arrested and prosecuted are false.

Earlier, news was shared about an owner of a domestic worker recruitment agency being detained for 15 days, subject to renewal, pending investigations. Reports claimed that he was charged with human trafficking, based on Article 3 of the relevant law.

Also Read: Unlicensed domestic worker recruitment agency owner arrested for mistreating, torturing workers

According to the head of the Syndicate Lawrence Abu Zaid, none of the licensed agencies affiliated with the syndicate committed any violations in this regard or were involved in human trafficking.

He added that none of them violated any rights of domestic workers or appeared before any judicial authorities in this regard.

He noted that the Syndicate provided assistance to agencies by purchasing 100 airline tickets to fly back domestic workers who wish to return to their countries, after being "stranded" in Jordan.

Abu Zaid said that most of the stranded workers were deceived by "human trafficking brokers" who work outside the umbrella of the law and violate human rights.

He explained that these people seek to employ "runaway domestic workers" on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and take most of their wages, claiming that they do so in return for housing.

Notably, the houses they end up living in are "not safe or suitable from a health point of view." 

Abu Zaid expressed the need to conduct periodical security checks, in coordination with the Ministry of Labor and the syndicate, to track down and arrest these "brokers," who commit violations.

The aim is to protect workers, combat human trafficking, as well as put an end to the heavy financial losses that agencies end up with.

Abu Zaid explained that, unfortunately, some media outlets and citizens mistake these brokers for licensed agency owners.