DUBAI, 20 August 2006 — The UAE Labor Ministry will impose a one-year ban on employees of ‘bogus’ firms who fail to report to the ministry within three months, said Humaid ibn Demas, assistant undersecretary of the Ministry.
“As many as 50,000 establishments found to be either bogus or insolvent are operating on expired licenses. Eighty percent of these companies are non-functional and many of them were set up to trade in visas,” he explained.
“The ministry will also ban such bogus firms. Moreover, we will not deal with a sponsor who is found to have a bogus establishment, and any person who applies for the setting up of a new establishment will not be allowed or issued a permit unless he rectifies the irregularities and the status of his employees,” he explained.
“We have canceled the visas of nearly 300,000 workers since the beginning of this year. Comparing the number of the canceled laborers to last year, we notice an increase in the cancelation rate. In 2005, visas of 291,000 employees were canceled, while visas of more than 214,000 workers were canceled in 2004,” he added.
Minimum Wage Set for Philippines, Indonesian Housemaids
In a related development, the Philippines and Indonesia have set a minimum wage for housemaids coming to the UAE. According to agreements signed between the UAE and the governments of Indonesia and the Philippines, a Filipino housemaid must be paid AED700 a month for a two-year contract without deductions. An Indonesian housemaid must be paid AED600 a month and for those with two years’ experience, the salary is AED700 a month.
“The agreement came into effect recently. Stiff and deterrent action will be taken against whoever is proven to be involved in any abuse or assaults on domestic servants,” a top immigration official said.
The UAE government has recently relaxed the rules with regard to the visa transfer of domestic helpers, allowing them to change sponsors without risking a one-year ban on employment.
Similarly, the government has prepared a new draft contract for housemaids that will curb the violations of recruitment agencies and will safeguard the rights of maids.
An official at the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said the labor contract for Filipino domestic helpers has a checklist of 28 household chores that the housemaid is expected to do for her/his employer. It also should contain the number of adults, children, babies or special needs of people in the house.
The official added that the contract provides the housemaid with one day off per week with full payment. According to the Indonesian Consulate in Dubai, a housemaid will have a labor contract in two languages — Arabic and Indonesian. An inexperienced housemaid will be paid AED23 each day if she/he works on her/his off days. For an experienced housemaid it is AED27 per day.
A private bedroom should be provided for the domestic helper and he/she should be allowed to be in touch with their families and with the Indonesian Embassy or Consulate.
