Authority to secure maids' rights proposed - Gulf News

Elaborating on the problems of housemaids, Brig Al Muhairi said most of the cases of housemaids who flee their jobs were a result of either ill-treatment, harsh working conditions or a breach of contract.

"We need to ensure and guarantee the rights of these domestic workers," Brig Al Muhairi said. "We need an authority that looks into their problems and guarantees their rights. They would not run away if their rights were protected.

"The proposed authority should also be responsible for issuing them visas and following up with each and every housemaid who enters the country.

"The authority should also be responsible for regulating the procedures of housemaid recruitment agencies by monitoring their services and agreement policies."

Brig Al Muhairi said the problems surrounding domestic workers is not as alarming as in previous years.

I choose to have my on-campus apartment cleaned once a week for 30 dirhams (divide by 3 and get an approximation to dollars) -- for 2 or 3 hours work. My cleaner is an employee of a cleaning company and is paid some say around 300 dirhams a month plus room and board (in a barracks provided by the company) for a 10+ hour day job 5 days a week. I pay the 30 dirhams to the university, the university contracts with the company which also provides janitors for the academic buildings and student facilities.

Others on living on campus have live-in maids/childcare workers. They are the employing sponsor for the maids and are legally responsible for their behavior. As a result, these maids are rarely allowed to leave the house unless with the family.