Green-ish
Posts 9411

Di@DXB
Posts 2795

If you tell her you know its missing she will probably just deny it and you have no way to prove it now. I would put a little bit of cash there, leave the safe open and set up a camera and get her on footage taking stuff from the safe. Then confront her with the video. That should be enough to get her to return it to you.

AdviceSeeker
Posts 2239

I have also been here for over 10 years and it was also the "norm" when we got here, but things change and you have to change with it. Its illegal for you to be hiring her, and you will be fined if you go to the police. I had a maid steal from me in 2001 (who I sponsored) and when I went to the police they insisted that I had better be sponsoring her because if I didn't I would be in more trouble than her. Because I did sponsor her she was arrested, deported and banned, and I was not in trouble (and before anyone goes into how do you know it was really her, they were vouchers that she was caught spending).

You actually have no legal recourse so the best thing you can do is confront her. Demand the money back, and let her know you will report the incident to her sponsor. I would tell her you'll be telling the sponsor to inform all her part time jobs, and that you will report her for stealing and working illegally regardless if you get fined because its principle. But just know you can't actually do anything about it without incurring a 50-100k fine (and this was also the case 10 years ago if you were to report the incident)

Yes its your fault for leaving the safe open, but its not right that she has stolen.

SueB
Posts 10934

you left the safe open. You cannot prove she stole from you. She is illegal and you know it. You have a choice. Keep her on or fire her and never leave the safe open with such temptation. There is not a thing you can do about it. Suck it up and be more mindful.

A Rancher
Posts 2640

Sabrina, you are right that it used to be very common for maids to do a few part time jobs and not much notice was taken of it.

I hope you get the money back but she may have spent some of it or sent it home.

dentro
Posts 2493

Just tell her in calm voice that you know it was her and she can either give back, work for free until it lasts, or go away and say goodbye to dubai?

Sabrina H
Posts 688

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

Good luck...I dont let her clean for u again.

Sabrina H
Posts 688

I know, its a lot of money to have in the house, but it was due to go out for the rent.....I really feel so stupid, but more disappointed that she would steal. She has worked for me for 10 years and I assumed there was some kind of trust there.

I have always treated her well, and helped her out when ever I could. She even asked to borrow 3000dhs last year which I gave her and she worked it off, so if she needed the money, she knows she could just ask! Its frustrating to know there is nothing I can do.

I will see how tomorrow goes, maybe her conscience will get the better of her and I wont need to take it any further, other than to send her packing!

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

I know one who actually sponsored her got fined as he let her work in other places. And one who employed and did not sponsor. They both got fined not deported. I believe there is a hotline as well where people can report others.
It really gets on my nerves as some of us actually pay like 7 k to sponsor someone and people are encouraging them to work illegally....

TwoKids
Posts 629

If she gets fined and has her visa cancelled, I am pretty sure you would be fined too. Time for an agency maid. We had a much smaller situation when a car washer (not sponsored by us) apparently broke our windscreen but denied it. That was the last time we used an illegal worker!

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

Half the time they are not interested in the other people that employ her. I sponsored a maid who I caught out working for others on her day off. I reported her sacked her tried to deport herbshe got let off, even took her to iimmigration Abu dhabi, they gave herb two chances to turn up for her flight and she didn't ... She is still absconded now since April. When she shows up she will now be arrested and just deported. And banned for 12 months. So they can get away with it and just obscond and still work illegally.
I wouldn't risk telling the police what so ever.

mk-in-dubai
Posts 332

Fairy cake, I am glad to hear you actually know of people who have been fined. A friend of mine wants to sponsor someone she knows is part-timing...the maid says she and 'all her friends' part time and nobody 'ever' gets caught. I will tell her they certainly do! Was it the sponsor or the part-time employer who got fined, or both? I hear the maid and sponsor can both be locked up and deported too! I am about to sponsor someone and have made it clear part-timing is unacceptable.

Btw that's a lot of money the OP is keeping in her house! Sorry Sabrina it sucks to have a maid steal from you, I have had three ex maids steal from me, but that was back home. I am obviously way too trusting.

Princess_I
Posts 2454

Sabrina H
Posts 688

And what would be the consequence for her? Maybe thats a point I can bring up with her.

She also works for 3 other people I know and lives with one of them. Needless to say she would be losing part time jobs and her home.

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

Oh no not good...she will prob know she can get away with it. I've known two people to get fined 50k.

Sabrina H
Posts 688

Yes, this is my other problem, I dont sponsor her, she just works for me part time, and she has done for 10 years, which is why I think she thinks/hopes/knows she can get away with it.

Because of this very reason I dont want to involve the police, in an ideal world, she would confess, and give me the money back, which will be easier for all involved. (After which of course she will never enter this house again)

Out of interest, does anyone know what the fine/penalty is for having an maid work for you illegally?

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

TwoKids
Posts 629

Princess_I
Posts 2454

why not just call the police?

She is a thief......

fairycakeyumm
Posts 2858

So it's a maid? She is legal isn't she from an agency or u sponsor her? If she isn't u will get in trouble as well if u report her.

Princess_I
Posts 2454

I would say to her in conversation.....

"i can't believe that some money is missing, oh well if it's not back tomorrow then will have to call the police...."

Am sure it will be back.....

Sabrina H
Posts 688

...and now there is 4500dhs missing!

There was 40,500dhs in there to pay part of the rent, (there was 4 bundles of 10,000dhs and one loose 500dhs note)

When it came to the end of the month, I went to get some cash out and I noticed that each bundle of 10,000dhs now only has 9,000dhs and the 500dhs note was gone. (when ever I take cash from the stash, I ALWAYS write it on the
envelope, so I know how much I took and how much is left)

I'm kicking myself for being so stupid and leaving the safe open, whats the point in having a safe when you're just going to leave it open??? I know!

She is coming in tomorrow and I was hoping you might have some ideas on how to confront her without sounding too accusing? I want to give her the benefit of the doubt, or in some way say 'if you took it, give it back no questions asked'. I know she has some big expeses in her home country at the moment, so she could definitly do with the cash, but I have no proof. She is the only one other than me and OH who has a key to the house.

I'm tempted to take the envelope to the police for finger printing, but I dont know if they will just fingerprint it for me without opening a case.

Any suggestions?