Illegal labourers work at night to escape arrest

Dubai: It's time to play hide-and-seek for illegal part-time domestic helpers who have stayed in the country.

Fearing arrest, these part-time workers are staying in their accommodation during the day and venturing out only after dark.

Residents, especially those families whose spouses are both employed, said that they are finding it extremely difficult to adjust with the sudden decision on the part of the domestic helpers.

"The domestic help who comes to work for us twice a week is a Sri Lankan. We pay him Dh200 a month which is far cheaper than sponsoring a proper maid. It works for us and him as well," said an Indian housewife who did not want to be named.

Fines

She said that her domestic help called her yesterday morning to inform her he would not be able to come to work due to the crackdown on illegals being conducted by the authorities.

With the end of the amnesty, the authorities have warned illegals that they will pay heavy fines and administration fees ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh10,000 depending on the length of overstay.

Ruksana, a Pakistani housewife, said that she had asked her illegal domestic help to stop coming to work.

She said: "She is a 26 year-old-Indian who has been working for us as a part-time housemaid for the past two years. We used to pay her Dh250 monthly.

"I even asked her to go back to India during the amnesty but she refused saying that she needs to support her family."

Ruksana said the main reason for her discontinuing the services of the domestic help was to avoid any problems with the authorities.

"I don't want us to end up in trouble for employing an illegal," she said.

Speaking to Gulf News, the illegals who work as part-time domestic helpers said that they had no choice but to take the risk of continuing to work in the UAE despite their illegal status.

Manohar works in three houses during the day. He is employed as a cook in a restaurant in the evening.

He said: "I need a year more to work here and then I will go back. The small amount of the loan which I took out for my family is yet to be repaid.

"To avoid arrest I am going to stay indoors and just go out in the evening to work at the restaurant."

Hanif, a Pakistani gardener, said that he will not be going to work for two weeks to avoid the police crackdown.

"My friends informed me that if I am caught I will get a life ban," he said.