In a relatively conservative society such as ours, domestic matters are often considered private and so the rules governing domestic staff often tend to be those of the family hiring them. While this works well in most situations, it can open the door to abuse and leave domestic staff vulnerable to the whims of their employers, who are usually their visa sponsors too.
Some maids are being overworked, mistreated or even denied their wages. Too many of them are not allowed to take a day off and even when given a break from their duties, some are prohibited from leaving the household because of their host families’ fear of the social and legal liabilities of what might happen when they are out.
The recent case of a maid who committed suicide after her sponsor found out about her sexual relationship is the kind of rare instance that calls for attention to be paid to the circumstances of domestic staff. As The National reported, the Filipina maid died instantly after throwing herself from a fourth-floor balcony. The maid's boyfriend had earlier been convicted of trespassing into the house of her sponsor and having consensual sex with her.
Domestic staff make up a significant percentage of the expatriate workforce in the UAE. They may not have had formal education and come from low-income countries. Many of them are not aware of their rights. Employers and recruitment agencies alike can take advantage of that unless there are strong rules to ensure their well-being. Ensuring they have time off from their duties is important for their physical and mental health. Staying permanently within the home can lead to negative consequences, such as the appeal of absconding, and affects their ability to perform their work.
These issues have been recognised by the government, which in 2011 voted in measures ensuring the protection of domestic workers. However there remain gaps, which is why officials are working on a new law to protect the rights of both parties, by regulating maids’ working hours and issues of pay and safety, and better defining their working relationship with their sponsors and recruitment agencies.
Just enacting the law is not the end: it will also require rigorous enforcement. This legislation is needed to ensure that the UAE meets international standards. Clear rules implemented correctly will lessen the chance of further tragedies.
