Job Discussion Forums

JSM · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10 Location: US

Hi,

I have a few questions about HCT housing.

Can you get a small villa for a family in places like Mirdiff or are they too expensive now? What about in Sharjah and Ajman?

And also does anyone know about daycare? I know there are schools but are there daycare centres for younger children in Dubai/Sharjah/Ajman.

What about maids? How much do they typically cost if they live in full time or just come part time for after school care?

Any information appreciated.

JSM

JSM · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10 Location: US

OK I found out about daycare........

Does anyone know how much a full time live in maid typically costs? (If you have to get one!)

JSM

caliph · Joined: 05 Jun 2006 Posts: 218 Location: Iceland

Maids are apparently getting relatively expensive due to crackdown on visa requirements, minimum wages for them etc. Still, they are pretty reasonable.

Personally, I'd rather take care of my own stuff, then have someone throw my silk carpets in the washing machine and engage in other nightmare activities.

JSM · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 10 Location: US

I�d really rather not have a live in maid as well. It�s another responsibility and something else to worry about. But I think I am going to be forced to because I need to make sure there is someone who can pick up the 2 yr old from daycare and look after him till we get home. I would have just employed someone part time in the afternoon but from what I can gather, there has been a crackdown on illegal workers. If you�re not directly sponsoring a maid but you�re using them part time, you can be fined up to 50,000 dhms and the maid will be deported. It seems completely ridiculous as extra work helps maids to make ends meet.

I�ve also heard that they have cracked down on people carpooling/running informal taxi services. Apparently you have to register if you are carpooling to work with friends (?) (Another brilliant plan which will only put more cars on the roads). And again Indians/Pakistanis running informal taxi services for people is a great way to make a bit of extra cash when their wages are generally so low.

If anyone else had heard stories or can confirm these things let me know.

Tumblashu's parents · Joined: 09 Jul 2008 Posts: 40

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

HCT does not have a creche and is unlikely to offer such a benefit.

The authorities crackdown on unofficial car lift services on a regular basis and have done so for the past 10 years. However, they target people from the subcontinent/asia. I've never heard of Western expats being stopped because they were giving a colleague a lift, even if they were sharing the petrol costs.

I read something recently that it is possible to hire a maid working under someone else's sponsorship but that this transfer of employer has to be registered with the Dept of Labor. This means that while s/he is sponsored by someone else that s/he can legally work for another employer.

Zoot · Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 408

It's true - the household help will be deported and the 'employer' will have to pay a 50,000Dhs Fine for hiring him/her without being the Sponsor. Helenl's message is a little confusing in this regard. ONLY the person sponsoring the help can employ that person. You may transfer between one employer/sponsor and another, but whilst the transfer is in process, the helper can only work for the sponsor.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Is this new? I wonder how much it is enforced. In my experience, a significant number of teachers shared their maids to allow her to earn a little extra money.

VS

abudhabi · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 34

New rules regarding hiring maids were announced in June. For the full article you can read here in The National newspaper:
http://thenational.ae/article/20080702/NATIONAL/498720940/1040/NEWS

The most pertinent bit is this:

Imdramayu · Joined: 09 Feb 2007 Posts: 394 Location: South Korea

I have sponsored two housemaids while I lived in the Gulf. The going rate for housemaids is 700 (depending on the nationality). The housemaid agency fees are stiff at 6000 but it is worth it if you get a winner. We found a lovely, young, quiet Indonesian woman from West Java. She's been great. Our first housemaid was from the Phillipines but she ended up being jailed and deported due to boyfriend (and related) problems. She liked to party. That's why we stuck with the quiet folks from Indonesia.

Please, if you think I'm unfair for mentioning the nationality or salary level, don't mention it as I've heard all the arguments before. I'm meremly stating what the situation is on ground.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

Here's the link to the article I read
http://www.arabianbusiness.com/518089-maid-swap-rule-change-for-uae?jtmpl=1

As you can see, I left out a vital bit of information (goodness, could it be early onset alzeihmers?? Shocked

) that this can only happen for a period of 3 months which is in agreement with abudhabi's post

Sorry for the omission of this important fact

uaeobserver · Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 236

Housing costs in Abu Dhabi

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?col=&section=theuae&xfile=data/theuae/2008/July/theuae_July839.xml

Note: HCT staff have the option of taking college-managed apartments - or going out on their own. I'd recommend the former. From what I hear, real estate is very hard to come by in Abu Dhabi.

HCT has a classifieds e-mail list. It's a good way to find transport, furniture, and yes - even housemaids.