Job Discussion Forums

[Gulezar]

Sometimes you can strike up an arrangement with someone who is sponsoring a maid. She is full time for them, but she can take a few hours break in the afternoon and wash some dishes, do some light housework, or watch a child for you; HOWEVER, she is always on call for them, so if a holiday party has come along or madam's windows need washing, the maid doesn't show up at your place. It's all right for occasional babysitting or some laundry assistance, but not something you could depend on for coverage for a job or childcare.

Prices range, depending on country of origin, language and skills. Eritreans, Filipinas, Indonesians and Sri Lankans seem to be the most popular. You will usually find that there is someone who knows someone who has a sister who needs to pick up some hours or can pick up hours, somehow or other. It's all an underground network, so it can fall apart with a whisper from the police.

It's best to sponsor a maid legally once you are established and can crunch the numbers for yourself to see if such a option is viable for your income.

[helenl]

It is illegal to employ someone else's maid - here's some info from a reputable expat website, there are also stories in the local papers you can google on the topic

"There has been a crackdown during 2012 on the employment of illegal maids.

The fines and punishments are steep- between 50,00 AED to 100,000 AED, possible jail term and possible deportation. Do not expose yourself to this risk. Illegal helpers include one's that describe themselves as part timers on someone else's visa, full or part timers with no visa at all, odd job men, gardeners not belonging to any company etc. "

The only way to legally employ help is to sponsor them yourself or through an agency. Do lots of people employ illegal part-timers? Yes. But the police have started doing sweeps through various residential areas in Dubai checking everyone's papers. The fine, BTW, is for YOU, not the maid.

You will meet many people who employ illegal maids, but you also have to consider you have no recourse should s/he steal from you or cause any other problems because you can't report her to the police.

[nomad soul]

[Tom Le Seelleur]

Hi
I have 5 kids, two of which were born in Abu Dhabi. They all went to various nurseries when we lived in Abu Dhabi (Stepping Stones - both American and British ones) in Al Ain (Stepping Stones) and in Sharjah (Canadian).

In terms of employing a maid/nanny/homehelp it depends on whether you believe in slave labour or paying a fair wage to someone you are trusting the lives of your children with. You can sponsor or decide to pay part time. They can live in or live out. We have tried all options. The personality of the employee as well as their language skills, the way they treat your children and their attitudes to discipline should determine who you employ. So research, interview a few or if you decide to sponsor someone through an agency from abroad stipulate your expectations. In Abu Dhabi we tried 8 maids before we were content with number 9. In Al Ain and Sharjah we were lucky to find the right one - yet she let us down after the third year (she started to neglet responsibility and endangered the kids)and because our kids were becoming spoilt brats we decided in the end not to have any home help at all. This has become the best decision as they will learn life skills that they will need when they go to university and have to fend for themselves.