Amnesty causes shortage of housemaids in the UAE
The recent amnesty granted to illegals has caused a shortage of housemaids in the country as most of those working illegally took advantage of the UAE government’s leniency and left the country.
After the expiry of the amnesty deadline, the Interior and Labour ministries announced that 278,715 illegals had benefited by either legalising their status or leaving the country without they or their employers being fined.
Sources at the Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department (ADNRD) disclosed that most of the illegals were housemaids and farm workers.
As a result of the shortage of housemaids, the number of people wishing to sponsor maids has almost doubled with ADNRD receiving 700 applications a day.
A few months before the amnesty, Filipino housemaids had begun to demand increase in wages which the sponsors felt was a financial strain on them.
Waheed Ahmed, a resident of Abu Dhabi, says, “I think the problem does not lie in the amnesty. It is the demand of the housemaids for increased salaries which compelled sponsors to employ illegals.”
He, however, adds, “Since the cost of living has gone up, the maids, too, have to make their ends meet by demanding a bit more,” he adds.
Iqbal, a salesman, says, “In the past I used to pay about Dh900 and the maid was working six days a week from 7am to 6pm. Now, I am finding it difficult to find a maid. Thus, I have entered into an arrangement with a cleaning company for my flat to be cleaned twice a week, which costs me Dh350 a month.”
“The illegal housemaids phenomenon surfaced because employing a maid legally involves an expenditure of Dh7,000-10,000 for visa fee, air ticket and guarantee as well as commission for the recruiting agent,” says Doha Al Wazani, a public relation executive.
She notes that the government’s amnesty decision was right and necessary for streamlining the market as well as protecting the workers’ rights because the illegals cannot claim any benefits.
Some sponsors feel that one of the solutions to ease the housemaid shortage situation is for the government to lower the expense involved in sponsoring a maids. Source
After the expiry of the amnesty deadline, the Interior and Labour ministries announced that 278,715 illegals had benefited by either legalising their status or leaving the country without they or their employers being fined.
Sources at the Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department (ADNRD) disclosed that most of the illegals were housemaids and farm workers.
As a result of the shortage of housemaids, the number of people wishing to sponsor maids has almost doubled with ADNRD receiving 700 applications a day.
A few months before the amnesty, Filipino housemaids had begun to demand increase in wages which the sponsors felt was a financial strain on them.
Waheed Ahmed, a resident of Abu Dhabi, says, “I think the problem does not lie in the amnesty. It is the demand of the housemaids for increased salaries which compelled sponsors to employ illegals.”
He, however, adds, “Since the cost of living has gone up, the maids, too, have to make their ends meet by demanding a bit more,” he adds.
Iqbal, a salesman, says, “In the past I used to pay about Dh900 and the maid was working six days a week from 7am to 6pm. Now, I am finding it difficult to find a maid. Thus, I have entered into an arrangement with a cleaning company for my flat to be cleaned twice a week, which costs me Dh350 a month.”
“The illegal housemaids phenomenon surfaced because employing a maid legally involves an expenditure of Dh7,000-10,000 for visa fee, air ticket and guarantee as well as commission for the recruiting agent,” says Doha Al Wazani, a public relation executive.
She notes that the government’s amnesty decision was right and necessary for streamlining the market as well as protecting the workers’ rights because the illegals cannot claim any benefits.
Some sponsors feel that one of the solutions to ease the housemaid shortage situation is for the government to lower the expense involved in sponsoring a maids. Source
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