UAE | Employment
Rising costs force mums to take up odd jobs in UAE
More housewives in UAE take up work as car pool drivers, beauticians and tutors as rising cost of living forces them to contribute to the family income.
- By Anjana Sankar, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:00 October 18, 2008
- Fathima Haneef, a Lebanese housewife, says her husband does not mind her earning.
- Image Credit: Gulf News
Dubai: Sameera Suhail leaves for work at 7am in her blue Toyota Corolla.
She is back by 9:30am after finishing two trips to Karama and Bur Dubai. Her next round of duty starts at 6pm when her female car passengers finish their offices.
The 38-year old from Mumbai, India, uses her car for pooling in Karama and Bur Dubai, and earns Dh3,000 a month.
The number of self-employed housewives is on the rise in the country, as the rising cost of living is forcing them out of their four walls, to contribute to the family income.
Most women who spoke with Gulf News said they are taking up part-time jobs that will help them juggle the household chores, while making a few extra bucks.
And they do it as beauticians on call, doing promotions at supermarkets, selling textile materials, or taking on private tuition, which gives them the flexibility to choose their working hours.
Domestic work
Sameera, a mother-of-two told Gulf News that she gave up part-time domestic work five years ago and took a driving licence because she found car pooling a more lucrative and respectful profession.
She takes only ladies and charges anything between Dh350 and Dh500 for trips from Deira to Bur Dubai and Karama.
According to her, people like her are taking up such jobs because of the spiralling living costs in Dubai. "My husband is an office boy and earns Dh1,500 a month. With two kids, we live in a small room in Deira for a monthly rent of Dh2,000. It is impossible to continue in Dubai unless I also have some earnings," she said.
Fathima Haneef, a Lebanese housewife, makes money by offering beauty services. She goes from house to house and performs threading, waxing, facials and other services.
"I am a trained beautician. But after having kids, I gave up my job at a salon because my husband insisted. Now that the children have grown up, and so the expenses have increased, my husband does not mind me earning. It has become difficult for him to make both ends meet," said Fathima. She said she is able to make around Dh2,000 a month.
Jeena, an Indian housewife who lives in Satwa, said she makes around Dh2,500 without even stepping out of her house. Jeena sells dress materials that she brings from India.
"Indian clothing materials, especially salwar suits, are in great demand. And one customer will introduce you to four others, and the business will soon flourish. It gets me enough to take care of my miscellaneous expenses and I feel good that I don't have to ask my husband for every penny," Jeena, 32, said. She also stitches the dress materials for her customers.
There are more such professions that suit women who prefer to be self-employed for financial independence. Maysoon and Sunitha are housewives who give private tuitions for children in their area.
Mysoon teaches Arabic, while Sunitha teaches English and Math for children up to grade 5 in the Al Nahda area of Sharjah. "I decided to take on tuition after my husband said he would not be able to maintain the family with his current income," said Maysoon.
Do you know someone who has taken up a temporary job? What happened? Has the increase in prices affected your monthly budget too? What has been the most major change in your lifestyle?
Your comments
Well am already employed in a govt. dept. since my salary is not so well off as I have a rent deduction and personal loan cut from ma salary, am left with nothing. I tried to do some part-time job but it didn?t workout.
Right now is doing marketing n selling of Indian dresses.
Rushali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: October 19, 2008, 10:47
Yes life is getting harder,I think its a great idea to be working part time or from home. You will be able to supplement the family?s income as well as have more time with the children. I?m also a housewife and would like to know about the kind of jobs that one can do.
Memory
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: October 19, 2008, 10:09
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