Officials split on joint policy in hiring maids

Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Call for a unified GCC stance on future negotiations with countries providing domestic helpers received mixed reactions from immigration officials here.

The move proposed by the Saudi recruitment offices following the decision taken by the Philippines government about its housemaid recruitment to Saudi Arabia should be adopted by the Gulf Cooperation Council, Colonel Nasser Al Awadi, director of the Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department, told Gulf News.

"A collective stand should govern agreements between GCC countries and countries providing housemaids," Al Awadi said.

The Philippines government has demanded that the monthly salaries of housemaids in Saudi Arabia be increased to 1,500 riyals (Dh1,468), a condition which was also placed for employing Filipina housemaids in the UAE. Al Awadi said the condition was turned down in the UAE and nobody has raised it again.

Recruitment

The Saudi recruitment panel suggested a halt in recruitment of maids from the Philippines should be imposed across the GCC countries if Manila insisted on implementation the new measures, including an interview of a maid's sponsor at the Philippine embassy.

Brigadier Mohammad Ahmad Al Merri, director general of Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, said: "We know that many are unhappy with the salary set by the government in Philippines, but according to me it is the market and it depends on the person. It is simple, one can take it or leave it," he said.

"It is up to you to employ someone from the Philippines or Sri Lankan or any other nationality," Brigadier Al Merri said.

He said the main issue which should be solved is the Dh15,000 (Dh10,000 fee for two year contract and Dh5,000 as a deposit) which should be paid by an expatriate in order to employ a domestic helper.

"Because expatriates have to pay that amount they employ housemaids who have absconded. That issue will be solved soon and I am preparing studies to replace the fees and deposit imposed on the expatriate to employ a domestic helper," he said.

Brigadier Al Merri said despite the fact that some criticised the new domestic helper's contract he is happy with it.