Strong demand for low-wage workers in the Middle East, coupled with fewer job opportunities at home, have helped sustain high rates of migration from Ethiopia to destinations such as Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Kuwait. Most women are using informal brokers and opting for irregular migration to earn a living abroad, and face a high-risk of labor exploitation and human trafficking. This panel will explore the roles of the “chain” of middlemen who recruit women into jobs overseas, and discuss how policies and services can be improved to prevent exploitation and protect the wellbeing of Ethiopian migrant domestic workers in the Middle East.