Tricked and Trapped: Human Trafficking in the Middle East, ‎pdf 4.1 MB

explained that in 2010 there were between 1,300 and 1,400 artists working
in the cabarets at any one time in country. 122 The artists, he said, live in
private rooms and two- or three-star hotels. 123 In the super nightclubs, the
women are recruited to dance, serve alcohol to men and entertain them. In
order to speak to any of the artists, a customer must order drinks; then he can
select the woman he wants. 124 One client explained that “the girls receive five
dollars per bottle of champagne bought by the client”. 125 The artist usually
stays in Lebanon for a short period of time, up to a maximum of six months,
and must then spend an equal period in her home country before she is
eligible to return to Lebanon. 126 The GDGS drew up a standard contract
between the artist and the club owner to regulate the terms and conditions
of the work, but did not specify a minimum wage as the salary is supposed to
be determined at the time of signature. A super nightclub owner interviewed
explained that “the minimum salary is US$800 per month and the maximum
salary is US$1,800. The salary is determined based on experience, age and
beauty. It does not include the commissions they receive.” 127 In addition, this
standard contract stipulates that both parties should respect “international
type contract clauses” regarding termination of contract, 128 but does not state
which body of law should be applied if the employee wants to leave the job
or how the stipulation of the contract are to be enforced.
In Jordan, although an artist visa exists, it is not issued frequently. Interviews
with several nightclub owners shed light on the size of the industry in Amman.
“There are approximately 30 Russian nightclubs and 40 Arab nightclubs
in Amman,” explained one owner. 129 The Russian nightclubs play Western
music, and cater to high-level professionals. Many of the women there speak
English. They come from Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
122
Interview with an official of the GDGS responsible for the artist department, Lebanon,
24 Jan. 2012.
123
According to the GDGS, there are 23 hotels that host artists, and it inspects these
hotels on an ad hoc basis at least once a year.
124
For more information, see “Prostitution, the business of sex” in Executive (Aug.
2009, Issue 121), http://www.executive-magazine.com/getarticle.php?article=12135 [accessed
27 Aug. 2012].
125
Interview with a client, Lebanon, 15 Dec. 2012.
126
According to the GDGS, there are many cases of women who return to Lebanon to
work, sometimes choosing to work for a different super nightclub in the country. The
six-month limit in the country is stipulated in Decree No. 10267relating to the entry
and residency of artists to Lebanon, 6 Aug. 1962, art. 9.
127
Interview with an owner of a super nightclub, Lebanon, 24 Apr. 2012.
128
The Lebanese standard artist contract used by the GDGS contains only six articles.
Article 3 stipulates that “the two engaged parties respect the clauses of international type
contracts concerning sickness, absence, stopping work or severe circumstances (flood,
fire, war, national revolution or religious mutinies).”
129
Interview with an owner of a nightclub, Jordan, 16 Nov. 2012.
78