It’s not easy to get a live-in housemaid

With many countries putting restrictions on the entry of the maids in the UAE, it has become difficult and challenging for city’s residents to get the house helps and that’s the reason they prefer spending as much as they can to hold onto their maids.

Meeta Pandey, an Indian business woman born and brought up in Dubai have changed 3-4 maids in last few years. She needed someone to take care of her six-month-old daughter almost 13 years back and that’s when she hired her first live-in maid, who was from Ethiopia. After that, she recruited someone from India and finally she got a Nepali maid who is working for her since 2013.

“It was not at all easy to get Chitra (her Nepali maid). I ran around with a lot for paper work and documentation. In the first year, I deposited around Dh7,000 as a deposit amount with visa expenses and every year I pay Dh5,000 for its renewal. We started with the salary of Dh1,200 and now I pay her Dh1,700. Apart from this, I give her Dh2,000 per year for her kid’s education,” said Pandey.

“Actually, I don’t mind incurring expenses because I need her. She takes care of everything from grocery to cooking and taking care of my child. Now, the Nepali government is also getting strict with the laws on deploying housemaids from their country here. So we have to follow the rules and regulations strictly.”

Another family is living in Dubai

There is no money in my country and so I came here to make money for my family.” Ann, Darakshan Inam’s maid

for last 11 years and has sponsored their Sri Lankan maid in 2014. Darakshan Inam (wife) and Inam Abidi (husband) are both working and were in the need of a full time maid.

“It was one of the most difficult tasks for us to hunt for a 24x7 maid who can be with us. Through a friend’s recommendation, we found her. Apart from the salary, we take care of her medical and other expenses, yearly air ticket and Fridays are her off days. Initially, we spent around Dh10,000 on the deposit amount and every year we pay Dh4,000 for the renewal,” said Darakshan.

Her maid, Ann, said: “There is no money in my country and so I came here to make money for my family. My 13-year-old daughter is studying and I need money so that she can complete her education. Dubai is better than my country and I wish to stay here.”

ankita@khaleejtimes.com