Domestic workers’ benefits from new law

Below are some of the benefits a domestic worker is entitled to once the law is issued:

• A weekly day off with full pay.

• A paid annual leave of 14 days, (to be paid in cash) and employer has to shoulder maid’s air tickets every two years.

• Sick leave of up to 30 days a year: first 15 days with full pay, while the next 15 days will be without pay.

Employment conditions

• Effective protection against all forms of abuse, harassment and violence and workers should also be provided with decent living conditions that respect their privacy.

• The right to revoke the contract on one’s own if the employer fails to honour his or her obligations.

• Employers must ensure safe work environment, provide proper accommodation, clothing and food, medical care, good treatment, respect and dignity, and physical safety to the maid.

• An employer may not engage a domestic worker in any work with a third party unless legal terms are met and consent of the Ministry of Interior is obtained. The employer has to pay compensation for any occupational injuries or diseases the worker may contract.

Entitlements

• At the end of the contract, the employer has to settle all the worker’s dues within ten days and, in the case of the worker’s death, the employer has to repatriate the body to the worker’s home country.

• A worker who completes at least a year of service will be entitled to an end of service gratuity amounting to one month’s salary for each year of service.

• The employee shall forfeit entitlement to severance pay if he or she is absent from work for more than 30 consecutive days.

- From Gulf News archives