Diplomats, helpers hail 'contract'

Dubai: Diplomats and domestic workers yesterday expressed their happiness over the new unified contract.

Asian diplomats said it will give the domestic worker much needed security cover.

"This is an exercise in good time. I was part of the discussions that were attended by various other diplomats and immigrations heads," said Venu Rajamony, Indian consul general yesterday.

"We were told that the contract is just the beginning and it will be progressively fine tuned."

Junaid Nabavi, Sri Lankan Ambassador, said that the contract is very encouraging. There are an estimated 160,000 Sri Lankans in the UAE of which 60 per cent are domestic helpers.

"This is first time such conditions for domestic workers have been spelled out."

Nasser Munder, labour attaché, Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi said, "The contract has defined the terms and conditions. I think it is very fine."

He said there are an estimated 50,000 Filipinos employed as domestic workers in the UAE. "We receive 3 to 4 complaints from domestic workers each day," said Munder.

According to domestic workers who spoke to Gulf News, the new contract will streamline their recruitment and do away with middlemen who extracted money earlier for providing the visa.

"It is a big relief," said Jayanti, a Sri Lankan domestic helper from Sharjah yesterday. She said the new contract will bring down the number of maids who abscond from their place of work.

"Harassment cases will also come down. What we need is our wages on time and rest period."