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Absconding maid

38

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 11:38

To my utter shock and surprise our sponsored maid announced she is not returning to work (she is live out). We told her she must cooperate for her visa cancellation but she is not responding and ignoring my requests. She has been working for us for 8 months and her contract is not over yet. I can assure you that we treated her well and she had a salary of 2650 Dhs. Anyone had to deal recently with an absconding maid? What are the steps to taken, have you had any bad surprises?

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CrashingWaves80223

680

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 19:09

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law. What? Of course they fall under labour law. No, they don't. I'm not impressed then.There are ILO's conventions that the UAE have ratified in regards to domestic workers. There is a law, but it is separate and comes under immigration not labor office.

489

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 18:58

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law. What? Of course they fall under labour law. No, they don't. I'm not impressed then.There are ILO's conventions that the UAE have ratified in regards to domestic workers.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 18:50

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law. What? Of course they fall under labour law. No, they don't.

489

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 18:45

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law. What? Of course they fall under labour law.

CrashingWaves80223

680

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 18:38

Domestic servants must live on the premises but drivers can live out. That is the only reason why they ask for tenancy contract, because she is your total responsibility, and that under Islamic law it is your duty to return her safely back to her family after her contract has been completed.

121

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 15:00

What would happen to a maid who absconded around 6 yrs ago and had a police report against her for stealing, if she was to go to her embassy and try to go home? She has been a month ago to get a new passport and told them she is renewing it to go home.she hasn't yet Picked up her new passport but has said they said if she goes to embassy with a ticket she will sign a piece of paper and they will let her go home with no problems. Seems a little bit too good to be true to me. She is a friend of our maids.

38

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 11:03

I called immigration and was told to make an letter of absconding at any typing center, then take a copies of her labour card, ID card, her passport and the original passport of the sponsoring party and submit it all to the immigration to file a case. Once a case is filed she is no longer our responsibility. When she is caught she will be taken an eye scan for recognition, interrogated and sent home with a ban to ever return. Thank you ladies for you input. <em>edited by cibacibute on 04/12/2013</em>

2192

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 10:03

When our maid absconded, my husband (the sponsor) went to the Immigration Department along Trade Centre Road. First he went to one of the typing centres there, informed them of what happened, and they asked him for her original passport and my husband's passport and visa copy. After he paid them for the fee, they returned the passport and documents attached to a form which my husband signed. He then proceeded to the Customer Service Desk of Hall 15 (the building opposite the bank). The officer told him to pay Dhs360 as fees and took the original passport. Word of advice: If you're sure she's not going to return, report it immediately. If something happens to her or get's caught, it would be the sponsor's fault. Also, she might turn the tables around and you might be the one who'll have to face charges with Immigration and/or Police if she gets to them first. Absolutly Correct. Thats what I did when my maid absconded. The Officer also told me that if she ever gets into contact, meet her and bring her to any nearest police station and they will then take her to awir jail and she will then be deported. the 2000 aed deposit will be used to pay for her flight. They also told me to contact her embassy and give them a copy of her passport and also explain that she has been reported as absconded. I am told and dont quote me on this that they will then hand her over to immigration and arrange for her to be send back with your deposit money.

214

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 09:55

How can it be legal if the immigration asks for your rental agreement to make sure your apartment fits to have a maid live in it? Each time i sponsored a maid, i was asked about the size of the apartment and if i have a maid's room.

42

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 16:17

When our maid absconded, my husband (the sponsor) went to the Immigration Department along Trade Centre Road. First he went to one of the typing centres there, informed them of what happened, and they asked him for her original passport and my husband's passport and visa copy. After he paid them for the fee, they returned the passport and documents attached to a form which my husband signed. He then proceeded to the Customer Service Desk of Hall 15 (the building opposite the bank). The officer told him to pay Dhs360 as fees and took the original passport. Word of advice: If you're sure she's not going to return, report it immediately. If something happens to her or get's caught, it would be the sponsor's fault. Also, she might turn the tables around and you might be the one who'll have to face charges with Immigration and/or Police if she gets to them first.

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 15:15

It is LEGAL to sponsor a live-out maid. As a sponsor I do know where she lives. I also hold her passport (because she's asked me to, in her opinion it's safer with me than in her shared apartment). OP, go to immigration, either with her passport or a copy, and report her absconding. Exactly. I really cannot say either way but someone on here mentioned once that expats need to report how many rooms they have in their residence when sponsoring a maid. Does anyone know if this is true? AnonDubai, I know what you mean, I did read somewhere that immigration do need to know how many rooms in your place, hence the tenancy contract is given a copy of it beside the salary certificate of the sponsor as part of the formalities to apply for a maid visa. in general you won't find a specific rule about the live out maid, as understood you sponsor the maid; you home the maid in a room that inside your home... that's why the sponsor is responsible of the maid and her moving around the UAE, live out maid is something I only encountered on EW threads.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 13:32

It is LEGAL to sponsor a live-out maid. As a sponsor I do know where she lives. I also hold her passport (because she's asked me to, in her opinion it's safer with me than in her shared apartment). OP, go to immigration, either with her passport or a copy, and report her absconding. Exactly. I really cannot say either way but someone on here mentioned once that expats need to report how many rooms they have in their residence when sponsoring a maid. Does anyone know if this is true?

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 13:30

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law. True, but the police do not handle and will not search for an absconding maid unless she has committed a crime (stealing, vandalism, etc.).

804

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:53

It is LEGAL to sponsor a live-out maid. As a sponsor I do know where she lives. I also hold her passport (because she's asked me to, in her opinion it's safer with me than in her shared apartment). OP, go to immigration, either with her passport or a copy, and report her absconding. Exactly.

804

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:53

For anyone questioning the legality of live-outs, how do people who have absolutely no extra accommodation hire home help unless it's legal? If you don't have a spare room, where do you put your helper? I've heard of maids sharing rooms with the kids and even sleeping on the kitchen floor, but most sensible employers without spare room use live-outs. This is particularly true for families in apartments. I stress: you must be the sponsor and pay all associated fees. The Philippines Consulate recommends that you add 500+dhs to a 'live-in' wage to cover additional costs/transportation, but that figure varies depending upon the circumstances of one's live-out help, how far she has to travel, how many people with whom she's sharing etc ...

2287

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:52

It is LEGAL to sponsor a live-out maid. As a sponsor I do know where she lives. I also hold her passport (because she's asked me to, in her opinion it's safer with me than in her shared apartment). OP, go to immigration, either with her passport or a copy, and report her absconding.

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:51

Absconding is a serious matter and if she is ever caught she will be deported. She'll also have problems when she tries to leave the country but the authorities need to have her details. It must be an awful shock to you. There's a lot of advice on here that if you are good to your maid, she'll be good to you but it's not always the case so don't feel you have done anything wrong.

IzzyOnTheSeat82823

5334

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:47

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police... But Maids do not fall under the labour law.

804

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:45

I too thought that if you sponsored someone then they must live with you. Do you have her passport? No, it's legal, so long as you are her sponsor. People do it all the time.

118

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:44

I too thought that if you sponsored someone then they must live with you. Do you have her passport?

804

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:42

On another note - why would you allow someone sponsored by you to live outside your home? I am not 100% sure but do believe that this is illegal. As sponsor, it is your responsibility to know where your maid is - if she is living outside, how can you? Surely you know where she lives. It's perfectly legal to have a live-out maid but you must be her sponsor and have all her papers in order. Lots of people use live-out maids who commute each day and the sponsor pays more to cover her rent/expenses for the privilege of having a 'daily' rather than a live-in. Agree, however, that it's a bit remiss not to know where one's maid is living, how she's travelling, her circumstances etc ... To the OP: even if you only have a photocopy of her passport/visa, you can set the wheels in motion and report her as having absconded. Just visit contact the Immigration authority -- I'm pretty sure Dubai Police won't do anything unless she's stolen from you, for example -- and take it from there. She's broken her contract with you and apart from anything else, you don't want her to take advantage of another family. Good luck. . <em>edited by LadyBee on 03/12/2013</em>

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:41

But absconding is not a criminal violation, only a labor one. The police will not get involved in this. If indeed having a live-out is illegal, then the OP would only incriminate herself by going to the police...

Anonymous (not verified)

0

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:37

It is not a big deal as long as all the paper work was correct. Do you hold her passport? That will need to be handed over the immigration. You will also need to go to immigration to report her as "absconded" and "black list" her. There is a fee for this but can't remember - 1,800aed???? You then sign papers to state you will pay her repatriation should she ever be located and that is that. It is in the hands of the immigration. On another note - why would you allow someone sponsored by you to live outside your home? I am not 100% sure but do believe that this is illegal. As sponsor, it is your responsibility to know where your maid is - if she is living outside, how can you? Surely you know where she lives. If you do, I would give the police/immigration the address and contact details ASAP. Even go there with the police to firmly identify her and get the matter closed.

5452

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:14

This is not a big deal and immigration takes it very lightly. Do you have her passport?

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 11:54

If she cut the contacts with you, and you do not know where she is about - do you know where is her home over here? - then go ahead and report her absconding, so you are washing your hands from her actions, as if she decided to work illegally and police did catch her, no one blame you or your husband of her absconding.

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