Modern slavery, accountability and technology: evidence from a West Asian context
Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies
ISSN: 2042-1168
Article publication date: 19 January 2022
Issue publication date: 22 September 2022
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present an institutional analysis of modern slavery to understand the accountability status for domestic workers in the West Asian context, notably Lebanon. This study also aims to explore how today’s modern age – where Internet technologies and social media platforms are highly dominant – affects modern slavery.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is based on conversations and secondary data such as previous studies, Internet websites and media reports published in the West Asian region, especially Lebanon.
Findings
The study found a context where different institutional factors are influential with no specific definition of accountability. The context specificities, including the misuse of Internet technologies, contributed to the migrant domestic workers’ precarious life and the absence of resistance and actions from the domestic workers’ side (account holders). Further, weak institutional settings and indigenous cultural factors have contributed to the lack of accountability and responsibility from power holders such as households and employers’ governments.
Originality/value
This study provides insights to researchers and other stakeholders concerned with socioeconomic issues in West Asia. Further, it has a social implication by highlighting the humanitarian problem of marginalised migrant domestic workers traveling from poor African and South Asian countries to West Asian countries and indicating to the broader society’s social responsibility or duty concerning this problem.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Prince Sultan University for their support.
Citation
Diab, A. (2022), "Modern slavery, accountability and technology: evidence from a West Asian context", Journal of Accounting in Emerging Economies, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 908-933. https://doi.org/10.1108/JAEE-05-2021-0149
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited