UAE govt strengthening measures vs. absconding maids

Government officials in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are strengthening measures to stop absconding household helpers from working there illegally.   A report of  the news site “Emirates 24/7” on Tuesday said some Emiratis have been charged for leaving the foreign household helpers they hired legally to work illegally for other people in exchange for money.  Lt. Col. Khalaf Al Ghaith, assistant director general for Illegals and Foreigners’ Affairs said the Illegals and Foreigners’ Affairs has recently arrested 254 people — mostly females —“under the categories of assistants (maids, drivers, and gardeners).”   He noted that 69 cases were referred for prosecution but said “the issue of absconding domestic workers is not a phenomenon.”   Al Ghaith also urged community members to inform the department about such cases by calling 8005111.   According to the Department of Naturalization and Residency Dubai (DNRD), domestic workers “must be sponsored by their recruiters.”    Employers who hire “illegal housemaids,” or those who are not on their sponsorship, face a fine of Dh50, 000 (over P550, 000). Domestic workers employed illegally also face punishment.   Signs, reasons   Meanwhile, lawyer Isa bin Haider shared five “sure-shot” signs for employers to determine if their household helper plans to abscond. These include:

• frequent use of mobile phone,
• going out of the house frequently without any apparent reason,
• repeatedly claiming to be unwell,
• buying travel bags while claiming that he or she is preparing for the annual leave, and
• meeting old and new friends during her weekly holiday.

  According to Bin Haider, domestic workers escape their employers’ households because of three primary reasons including “abuse and humiliation by their employers on an ongoing basis.”   He added that household helpers may also want to leave because:

• they are given too much work by their employer, or
• they wish to increase their income.

Al Ghaith, for his part, called on employers “to not threaten” their workers and give them a “humanitarian treatment.”   As of 2009, the workers who fall under the category “Maid, Nanny” receive Dh700 to Dh2, 000. Salaries in the UAE, however, depend on nationality and, at times, gender.    The statistics from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) show that more than 13, 000 Filipinos were deployed to the UAE last year under the “Household Service Workers” category, making the Arab country the third top destination for these workers, next to Hong Kong and Kuwait. - VVP, GMA News