Job Discussion Forums

VictorianChick · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 11

Hi Everybody.
I've been reading a lot all over the boards and did a search on "maids" and "hiring maids," but wasn't able to find much information.

I've applied for a position in the Gulf; I lived in Oman for a short while a long time ago, so I have a tiny bit of experience with life there.

I'm wondering how many of you have hired a maid or cook (or even driver). As I look at housing options, it seems many if not most have a "maid's room," but I'm wondering if expats engage in the practice.

Do you have a maid? How did/do you find the experience of having one? I might be thinking especially of those coming from countries where it is not such a common practice.
Much thanks!
VChick

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

None of the flats provided by my employers - in any Gulf country - had maid's quarters. It was mostly those with kids who had a live-in nanny/maid... and I did know some teaching couples with 3+ kids who also had a cook. I never knew any teacher who hired a driver. Seriously speaking, unless you are a teaching couple or have a spouse in a field other than TEFL, a "staff" is NOT in the budget. I did have some single friends who hired one of their friend's maids on a once a week basis... or every other week.

VS

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 1:41 am Post subject:

Yeah...plus, a "maid's quarters" is nothing more than a glorified walk-in closet...in such high regard its denizens command from their masters...er...sponsors...

NCTBA

VictorianChick · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 11

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 2:38 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

In Jeddah when I lived there, many "expats" (ie rich white folks) had servants although more had people "do" for them for a few hours once or twice a week. Live-in maids (often illegals from Ethiopia/Eritrea) were popular with some, including unaccompanied men.

VictorianChick · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 11

Thank you for your responses.

Do you think that the end of the sponsorship system in a country like Kuwait will help their domestic workers? What kind of system will replace it, do you think?

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/kuwait/manila-welcomes-kuwait-s-decision-to-end-sponsorship-system-1.690297

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

It's not just Saudi or other regional employers who abuse their live in / out help. I worked with a woman who berated me for giving my house cleaner an increase in her hourly wage (she came one day a week) when I got a raise in salary "They'll all want more money if you do this" Note, same woman got the same raise I did -

That said, many maids/nannies/house cleaners/gardeners prefer to work for Western expats because they aren't usually forced to work 16 - 18 hour days for 6, 6.5 or even 7 days a week.

celticbutterfly · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 41

A lot of western expats in the UAE have nannies for their kids, who also do cooking and cleaning duties, so you could call them 'maids'. It's an expensive business, as you have to pay the sponsorship and visa fees, a plane ticket home every year as well as a salary etc etc (and the western expats tend to pay better than their arab counterparts). Most western expats treat their home helps well, but there are unfortunately some who 'go native' with their maids/nannies and treat them appallingly. This kind of abuse also seems to happen more than it should with the arab expats who hire maids.

It is actually illegal in the UAE to have someone cleaning your house a couple of times a week without sponsoring them, but most people do this if they don't want a live-in. You have to be careful when advertising for cleaners, as a word in the wrong ear could get them in a lot of trouble. A lot of Indians, Filipinos, Sri Lankans etc clean dozens of houses each, which pays them a semi-decent wage. Honesty is one problem here however; if you find your cleaner has stolen something, you can't go to the police as it is illegal to have hired them in the first place.

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

I think in UAE the law allows this free lancing IF the maid/cleaner has permission from their sponsor - I stand to be corrected though

Sleepwalker · Joined: 02 Feb 2007 Posts: 454 Location: Reading the screen

I doubt if anything will change it Kuwait - the country has exempted domestic workers from the protection awarded to other workers.

If you decide to go for domestic help, someone coming once a week for a short number of hours is best - that's what most teachers have.

I 'employed' one guy who came in each day when he had a break. He watered the garden and took away the rubbish. He watched the house (and fed the pets) when I was on leave. I found out later that his several part-time jobs were his only regular income as the sponsor paid when he could be bothered.