'Minimum wage means we can no longer afford to hire maids'

Abu Dhabi: Residents are complaining that the cost of employing a housemaid has become a burden on their monthly budget as several Asian nations have increased the minimum wage of housemaids from their countries.

Most housemaids in the UAE are from Asian countries such as India, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

A.N., an Emirati in Abu Dhabi said his monthly expenses had gone up as he has to pay more for his two housemaids who are from the Philippines and India.

"Last year I had to increase the salary of my Filipina housemaid by 100 per cent. Now the same thing is happening with my Indian housemaid as the Indian Embassy has increased the minimum wage. Her contract has to be renewed soon", said A.N.

Another Emirati, who employs an Indian cook and a Filipino driver, told Gulf News that although increased wages affected his monthly budget he cannot think of other options.

"Both of them have been working at my home for more than two decades and have become a part of my family", said M.A.

The Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi on instructions from the Government of India increased the minimum wage for Indian housemaids from Dh600 to Dh1,100 on February 20.

Conditions

Conditions also demand that the minimum annual income of the employer be Dh10,000, a security deposit or bank guarantee for Dh9,200 must be made (if the housemaid is recruited directly from India) and there must be an Indian guarantor.

The prospective housemaid also has to be above 30 years old and she has to be given a mobile phone within two weeks of her arrival in the UAE. The employer and the housemaid have to visit the embassy or consulate to register her mobile phone number and address within two weeks, said a statement from the embassy.

Indian Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad had earlier told Gulf News that 50 per cent of Indian housemaids in the UAE are employed by Indian expatriates in the country.

Although many Indian expatriates welcomed the new step as welfare measures for Indian housemaids, some Indian employers said the new conditions were unaffordable.

"I have been employing an Indian housemaid for 12 years and I think the increase of the minimum wage from Dh600 to Dh1,100 is too much," said G.M, an Indian secretary based in Abu Dhabi.

"It would be feasible if we did not need to pay a non-refundable annual fee of Dh5,000 at the naturalisation and residency department and medical insurance. Apart from those payments, we also meet all day-to-day expenses so the maid is able to save her entire salary," she added.

Sacrifice

Housemaids, however, expressed happiness on the new moves.

"We deserve the better wages not only for our hard work but for our sacrifices", said A.Z, an Indian housemaid.

"Like other expatriate workers it is not just the fact we miss our family back home but we always remain alert 24 hours", said A.Z.

Recruitment agencies said that the increase in the minimum wage for housemaids had had a mixed effect.

"The number of recruiters has gone down which has affected our income but then the number of complaints from housemaids has also gone down which relieves our headache," said an official from a recruitment agency in Abu Dhabi.

Monthly minimum wages

• Philippines: Dh1,470
• India: Dh1,100
• Sri Lanka: Dh825
• Indonesia: Dh800
• Bangladesh: Dh750

What about the construction labourers? When will the embassy think of increasing their wages?
Sunita
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 11:21

The new minimum wage is a great step. Everyone is burdened with the rising cost of living and housemaids are no exception to this. They work hard all day and take care of diverse tasks and they also deserve a raise in their salaries. This step only upholds the UAE's commitment to improve employee benefits. Keep up with the great job.
Rajesh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 10:22

It is a great step which will help to create better living for the maids. Let those who can afford, employ them. Just simple as that, why ruin and make their life miserable because you cannot afford the pay. They too have a family to take care of. Congrats again to the law makers.
RT
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 10:16

Everyone has a right to have a good salary, but an increase in minimum wages only for housemaids, why? There are many other classes, i.e. construction workers or labourers and no one talks about them, why? Because big companies will get affected. Housemaids are not for companies, they work for individuals who have to pay their salaries, ticket money etc. Private companies are not ready to increase their employees' salary, so how can we pay high salary to housemaids?
Shadab
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 09:36

We have a house maid and could afford her because the minimum salary was Dh600. The maid was happy with the salary. Now the minimum salary of Dh1100 is too expensive for us to afford. This will mean she will lose her job and the same time she may not be willing to go to an unknown sponsor. Indirectly, both maids and expatriates who need maids, will suffer due to a thin, unrealistic minimum wage.
George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 09:11

What if the employer is still giving me Dh700 monthly salary and never increases it? Could I complain?
Lara
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 09:05

This is the best support given by the Indian government and I?d like it to be implemented properly, there should regular check ups so that these people get a good working place.
Rizwan
Duabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 08:59

Housemaids are humans and not slaves. Bravo to the leaders who brought justice to these low paid harassed workers.
Felix
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 08:01

Oh my!! People may have to start actually doing their own household chores instead of depending on someone else to clean up after them. This is something the majority of the world already does as they can't afford to have someone from overseas do it for them. And these people who already do it do not see the chores as being beneath them or demeaning as they are a part of life.
Odette
Newcastle,Australia
Posted: March 05, 2008, 07:36

It's about time someone is looking after the domestic help. The people complaining need only ask, "how much would I do this job for"? Or "how much should my wife or daughter do this job for"? Bottom line is if they are too lazy to pick up after themselves, pay a decent wage to have it done, instead of complaining about the high cost of slave labor.
Hall
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 07:01

It is a good decision by the Indian government to safeguard the welfare of female national citizens from any exploitations.This must be followed for unskilled workers as well.
Sridharan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: March 05, 2008, 07:01