A Facebook group for domestic-worker recruitment in Iraq, hosted on Meta’s platform and with more than 10,000 members, has allegedly been used by employers to describe labour-rights abuses and to “mock and mistreat workers openly without consequence.” Most posts focus on abuses affecting women workers from East and West African countries such as Nigeria and Ethiopia, illustrating a wider culture of systemic and normalised abuse, and a racial hierarchy in the country’s treatment of domestic workers.

The journalist reports that many posts reveal signs of human trafficking. One post allegedly admitted to confiscating a Nigerian worker’s passport for six months before offering to sell it back to her for USD4,000, describing her as “healthy” and capable but unwilling to care for children. Another post offered to “sell” an Ethiopian worker, describing her as “lively, listens well, obedient, clean, and wears makeup. Sleeps and wakes on time. Has no friends or relationships here,” and adding that “I bought her for $6,000 and will sell for $4,000.”

Allegedly, when a worker requested healthier food and hygiene products, her employer called her “spoiled” and “demanding.” Other posts in the group detailed wage theft, enforced isolation, intimidation, retaliation, limited phone access, threats of deportation and other labour rights abuses.

In September, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited Meta to respond to the allegations. Meta's response can be read in full below.