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ewmoda

I'm sure this is illegal but please let me know for sure

743

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:18

A friend of ours told us that they were considering letting a husband and wife stay in their maids' room. Apparently the husband works for a company and the wife is a part time maid. From what she told me the couple want to live together and haven't been able to. They asked to live with her and in return for letting them stay at her place they will do part time cleaning and taking care of her villa.

Now isn't this illegal on many different levels??? Trying to knock some sense into her and it doesn't seem to be working.

Oh and no this isn't me doing this and asking about a pretend friend. I'm way to paranoid about hiring people to do things plus I would feel very weird about someone staying in my house.
<em>edited by srdoucet on 09/08/2011</em>

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1184

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 19:21

PS. Dentro. Subletting is also illegal. ;) edited by Maaam on 10/08/2011 Indeded, except if they are the owners or if the landlord said ok. So yes, they have to be careful on that.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 18:04

It is completely a huge no-no, on every single level. If the OP wants to help out the couple, she could try and get the lady a legitimate job, help them source some affordable accomodation or try and get the gentleman a better paid job through their contacts. That would be much more helpful.... PS. Dentro. Subletting is also illegal. ;) <em>edited by Maaam on 10/08/2011</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 18:02

OP's situation is different. my understanding is that the husband has employment, visa, housing allowance, Wife is on spouse visa. They will rent OP's friend's maidroom. There will be a rental contract. Nothing illegal until this point. The grey area is that Op's friend will accept work instead of rental payment for the room. Slightly grey, but not a big no-no.

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EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 16:52

So, how do the auths find out? Do they come knocking door to door? Is this an issue with just villas, or do appts also have a problem? Not the law part, but the discovery part. edited by FFK1978 on 10/08/2011 When we lived in Mirdif (on a fairly busy road) maids were stopped all the time either leaving or entering villas, or as they entered or left smaller, local businesses. I used to find it amazing that so many were still so willing to openly seek illegal employment...not even vaguely nervous about approaching complete strangers for work. I think the laws surrounding maid visas and employment conditions are grossly 'unfair', but they are the laws and I wonder how many can honestly afford the risk any more. Also, it's not just a 50K/100K fine for the employer, but deportation and a life ban for a woman who's possibly the only income earner supporting any number of people in her home country.

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Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 16:15

It is also illegal to house a male in your premises to whom you are not married to, but I am sure most of us had friends from home visiting and sleeping on our sofas? Do not be that rigid, that couple consider doing something human and nice with people who are poor and powerless. Unmarried couples living in together are illegal too and so is s#x outside marriage and the punishment for all this is also quite bad - jail/deportation. It happens and the authorities are aware. The real issue with hiring a maid illegally is if she is in the country illegally. When someone is caught hiring a maid who is on husband's visa they are very often let off with a warning max. Giving them a home in your maid's room if the OP's friend is comfortable with it is a small issue, the on paper technicality of letting a males stay is a non-issue too - unless you are really unlucky. As long as there is trust rightly placed and an arrangement agreed, for instance in case of a check, the maid does not need to say she works as a maid! She has her legal papers, id etc. As for a check at home I have never heard happening in people's homes. The police don't want to disturb families.

1184

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 15:54

It is also illegal to house a male in your premises to whom you are not married to, but I am sure most of us had friends from home visiting and sleeping on our sofas? Do not be that rigid, that couple consider doing something human and nice with people who are poor and powerless.

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 15:37

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/uae-inspectors-catch-1-000-runaway-maids-in-q1-181165.html

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 15:36

http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/crime/do-not-hire-illegal-maids-police-warn-residents-1.639148

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 15:33

People get stopped all the time and asked to produce papers/work permits etc. My DH was stopped about a year ago and asked for his labour card. Maids get stopped a LOT in malls outside parks etc. And questioned. Of course, apartments are monitored and so are villas. Is it really worth it? And the thing is you will pay the maid per hour pretty much what an agency charges (25-30 per hour). Would you (generic) really leave your children with someone in the country illegally?...

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EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 15:26

So, how do the auths find out? Do they come knocking door to door? Is this an issue with just villas, or do appts also have a problem? Not the law part, but the discovery part. <em>edited by FFK1978 on 10/08/2011</em>

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 13:43

well thank you all. I will tell her what you all mentioned and leave it up to her. After all its herself that she'd be putting at risk. God 100K - 500K..... yeah I think that's something to keep in your own bank account and not have to pay for a stupid action that you were hoping was helpful.

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EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 11:50

Know of several people who have done or do just what your friend is about to do. I am talking about some senior people doing this. I even know the MD of a huge company who does that. The maid and husband live in their maid room outisde the main villa. If the maid is on her husband's visa that cuts down risks dramatically. So she is not a runner from somewhere and I know of cases where the family is even left of the hook as they haven't hired an 'illegal' worker. End of the day it is illegal - but maybe your friend has been around for long and understands what works and doesn't. Of course if they stole something etc your friend has no cover. There are risks and if your friend is okay with it - let her be! It can be annoying to have well-meaning friends hound one endlessly on a decision taken.

cleanfreak36299

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 11:07

my colleague just got fined 50,000dhs for having a part time maid who was illegal. not worth it IMO. better to go through an agency or legally employ a maid. as for allowing a couple to live with you with all these other 'factors' seems a no go for me.

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Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 07:19

Why not just be hush about it? You don't tell, I won't tell. Did the fine actually go up to 500K as was rumoured last year? Or is it 'only' a 100K fine? Expensive risk to hope "hush" is enough to protect the family. Absolutely illegal on all counts.

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 07:08

Why not just be hush about it? You don't tell, I won't tell. it is not a case of not telling...that is not how most illegal workers & employees are caught. It is a pretty big risk to take considering the implications if caught. Not to mention the possibility of leaving kids with illegal workers etc and not having a leg to stand on if something happened. Not.Worth.It.

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 07:05

I Think it is legal if: 1. They are married.(Maid & her partner) 2. He (maid's partner) is her sponsor.(As husband and not as employee) - [b'> Legal if she is not working as a maid[/b'> 3. He (Maid's husband) gives her (maid) noc to work part time. [b'>Not legal and not possible[/b'> 4. They(perspective employer) get labor card from min. of labor for her to work as a maid part time or otherwise. - [b'>not legal and not possible [/b'> 5. In the contract they have to pay her consideration ( some money) & boarding as a perk. (In the contract they will have to mention husband is allowed to stay) [b'>- not legal and not possible [/b'> <em>edited by Maaam on 10/08/2011</em>

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 00:18

Why not just be hush about it? You don't tell, I won't tell.

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 00:02

What your friend also needs to think about is that should, heaven forbid, these people steal from her (and I'm not saying for a moment they would)...she wouldn't have a leg to stand on. This is illegal on so many levels. Is she just wanting to do it because she feels sorry for these people? Well, I'm sorry, but that's not a good enough reason...if there ever was one. Hope it works out ok and she see's sense.

Princess_I45169

1953

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 23:59

The only people who can legally live in the same house / apartment are immediate family or those on your visa.

142

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 23:39

I Think it is legal if: 1. They are married.(Maid & her partner) 2. He (maid's partner) is her sponsor.(As husband and not as employee) 3. He (Maid's husband) gives her (maid) noc to work part time. 4. They(perspective employer) get labor card from min. of labor for her to work as a maid part time or otherwise. 5. In the contract they have to pay her consideration ( some money) & boarding as a perk. (In the contract they will have to mention husband is allowed to stay) Would be great except for the following points: Maid jobs are not governed by labour- so thoeretically anyone on a husband visa cannot work as a "maid" by designation on visa and an employed individual will not be able to hire them under any other designation. The maid's room should not be used by a "renting couple"- especially if the husband is on another company's sponsorship and the maid wanst to work part time in other houses....yikes 50 k fines all around.

22

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 23:16

I Think it is legal if: 1. They are married.(Maid & her partner) 2. He (maid's partner) is her sponsor.(As husband and not as employee) 3. He (Maid's husband) gives her (maid) noc to work part time. 4. They(perspective employer) get labor card from min. of labor for her to work as a maid part time or otherwise. 5. In the contract they have to pay her consideration ( some money) & boarding as a perk. (In the contract they will have to mention husband is allowed to stay)

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:35

and from your original post - the story about them not being able to live together is a bit odd, if he works for a company and is sponsoring her then why would they not be able to live together? It sounds as though she has bought an illegal visa and is not even on her husband's sponsorship, making the whole thing even more of a pickle.

743

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:34

Perhaps they are not married either! :\: Now that is something that I'm sure didn't occur to her

587

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:26

Perhaps they are not married either!

743

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:24

LOL thanks Maaam. Figured if I had people backing me up on this she would definitely reconsider. I could only imagine what the consequences would be for her family, the maid and the husband.

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Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 17:22

Husband & wife living with them in villa = illegal wife working as part time maid = illegal Living with them and doing work in return for somewhere to stay = illegal husband sponsoring his wife and her working as maid = illegal (maids can only be sponsored by the company/agency they work for, or their sponsoring family). Yup, pretty much illegal all round...

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