Bello claimed it was mainly the Hezbollah, not the Lebanese government, that was undertaking the rebuilding of Lebanon in the aftermath of the conflict with Israel.

“If I were the government, I’d talk to the Hezbollah. It has a social infrastructure that the Lebanese government does not have at this point,” he said.

He said the Hezbollah, with most of its members coming from the less privileged sector of society, were more understanding of the plight of migrant workers.

From an ideological and social standpoint, they can identify with the migrant workers in their country, he said.

“Hezbollah ministers in the Lebanese government are the most pro-migrant worker,” Bello said.

But he recognized that there were diplomatic issues involved in working with the Hezbollah.

“Perhaps, they [the government] can coordinate with the Hezbollah through informal channels,” Bello said.

The mission members said they witnessed cases of abuse of Filipino workers by Lebanese employers, including preventing them from talking to other people, denying them a day of rest and even keeping them from attending Mass on Sundays.

There were many cases of Filipino workers being promised wages of $200 a month before leaving the Philippines, only to be given $150 when they get there.

Many Filipino workers even have their passports taken from them so they would not run away, they said.

Hataman said he would file a House resolution on the plight of OFWs in Lebanon next week.