Indian maids’ minimum wage set at Dh1,100 - Gulf States/Workers/Parents & Children/Jordan & Philippines/Saudi Arabia
22/2/08
The Indian Embassy has issued new regulations for the recruitment of Indian housemaids with immediate effect. The minimum wage has been raised from Dh600 to Dh1,100 per month, besides the provision of food, accommodation and return airfare, said a statement issued by the embassy. The potential employer (other than a UAE national) will have to approach the Indian Embassy or Consulate accompanied by an Indian national of good standing who will personally testify to the character and social standing of the employer, the statement said.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Employment/10191819.html
Parents bear the primary responsibility for children
Najla Al Awadhi; 22/2/08
The picture in front of you is that of a living room, it’s in the evening, the parents are out, and there is a small child around the age of two years lying on the sofa crying. Into the picture comes a small framed woman, clasped in her hand is a shoe, she lifts the child and proceeds to beat him repeatedly on his back, as the child screams the woman persists in the beating. The picture ends there.This isn’t a fictional story; this was a hidden camera in the home of a family in the UAE. The parents of this household began to suspect that their maid was physically abusing their child, so they installed a hidden camera, and discovered that there was abuse taking place.
See: http://www.gulfnews.com/opinion/columns/world/10191586.html
Filipino domestic helpers standoff over
Hani Hazaimeh; 22/2/08
The Labour Ministry on Thursday asked the Ministry of Interior to waive residency fines for about 185 Filipino domestic helpers, allowing them to be sent home at the expense of the Philippine embassy in Jordan, an official from the Domestic Helpers Agencies Association (DHAA) said yesterday. Since early last year, around 260 Filipino domestic helpers have sought refuge at their embassy over allegations of abuse by some employers, refusing to go back to work and asking to be sent back home. Only 75 workers have returned to work so far, agreeing to continue until their two-year work contracts expire, DHAA President Ahmad Faori told The Jordan Times on Thursday.
See: http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=5895
Alteration to Saudi Sponsorship Law Evokes Mixed Reactions
Sarah Abdullah; 22/2/08
Amal Khedar, a Saudi mother of four, has been living in Jordan for the past 11 years, and she says that it’s about time for her homeland to implement reforms to the labor-sponsorship system. “In Jordan the sponsorship system was updated in the past few years and we have a similar system now in place as the one being suggested by Saudi authorities,” she said, referring to ongoing discussions among Saudi authorities about changing a system that many see as broken. “(In Jordan) we as the employers are responsible for paying an initial sum to the Ministry of Labor and providing our identification and contact information. Then we write a detailed explanation of the type of worker we want and private companies draw up the contract.”
See: http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=107061&d=22&m=2&y=2008