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EWmums

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ewmoda

Maids Hours, Salaries & Extras- feedback please ladies!!!

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scarlett7821676

158

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 23:10

Ladies, out of just being curious, I asked what TAs are paid in the schools. I was told 1100 per month!!! yes Im talking in a nursery/KG level. I just think its very interesting ...especially people that are so adament about a salary being right or wrong for a maid. I was saying earlier that we all just have to think about what stardards are being applied here--employment wise... exactly the point i wanted to raise..

scarlett7821676

158

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 23:10

Ladies, out of just being curious, I asked what TAs are paid in the schools. I was told 1100 per month!!! yes Im talking in a nursery/KG level. I just think its very interesting ...especially people that are so adament about a salary being right or wrong for a maid. I was saying earlier that we all just have to think about what stardards are being applied here--employment wise... exactly the point i wanted to raise..

927

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 16:38

In the Phillipines a maid earns between 3000 - 5000 pesos a month, dependent on the type of work required. That is [b'>250 - 420 DIRHAMS [/b'>a month. No wonder then that some will work happily for 800 AED. Check it out http://www.philippinesinsider.com/expat-life/finding-the-right-maid/

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 16:24

Ladies, out of just being curious, I asked what TAs are paid in the schools. I was told 1100 per month!!! yes Im talking in a nursery/KG level. I just think its very interesting ...especially people that are so adament about a salary being right or wrong for a maid. I was saying earlier that we all just have to think about what stardards are being applied here--employment wise...

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 19:08

mabrouk, WB72; nice to hear. :)

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 19:03

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. This is not the norm though, for Emiratis and many other Nationalities. Oh, I understand that, my point was only that 700 to 800 aed per month from Emirati families is definitely not the norm which was something another poster was claiming. No, I meant it is the norm for EMIRATI families to pay 700 pm. ETA how many Emirati families do you know? edited by Al Quwatain on 13/01/2012 Oh no I disagree, not the norm. How many do I know? Not sure. I am part of one that has several different households Then there are friends in both Dubai and AD., I don't know a bunch! so today i asked this question 3 of my emirati friends: they pay all their maids 700 aed, one maid is paid 800, but she has been with the family for a couple of years.... no day off, trip home after 2 years service; i guess your maids wb72 won a lottery ;-) Guess so! Dh and my MIL think I "spoil" them or will eventually spoil them because I am not very demanding but everyone in the family and the Emirati's we know ( I do have loads of expat friends) pay about the same as we do. But I will say the help in the other households work harder than ours and IMO really deserve the 2K they get. They are treated well but they are worked to the bone IMO.

504

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 19:02

mabrouk, WB72; nice to hear.

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 18:28

do you also give every Friday off? 10 hours max working days? no one really works too much more than a few hours a day....... one day it could be 8am to 7pm but the next day 2pm to 1am! "a few hours a day" - and then examples of 11 hours shifts? edited by SlobberKnocker on 14/01/2012 Oh! :-) No. No one ever works from 8am to 7pm straight through - sheesh no! Meaning that they are sort of on call for things. Once the house is clean which is done by 11am there is a lot of internet surfing and relaxing! :-))

SlobberKnocker52531

146

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 17:25

do you also give every Friday off? 10 hours max working days? no one really works too much more than a few hours a day....... one day it could be 8am to 7pm but the next day 2pm to 1am! "a few hours a day" - and then examples of 11 hours shifts? <em>edited by SlobberKnocker on 14/01/2012</em>

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 17:09

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. They each have their own room, TV, laptop, Phones and food and toiletries and bough each week during the shopping. you sound like a very nice family to work for. just out of curiosity - do you mind me asking? - do you also give every Friday off? 10 hours max working days? yearly paid trip to home country? this might be dubai's best kept secret then.... watch out for new kind of classified ads by the maids: 'esmeralda, 38, from philippines, looking for a housmaid job, prefers to only work in emirati / european / british family..... ;-) LOL Pink Bunny! Yes, we give every Friday off yearly trip home for a month and no one really works too much more than a few hours a day BUT the hours change daily which is the trade off depending on who DH may be entertaining so one day it could be 8am to 7pm but the next day 2pm to 1am! We have never hired anyone from the philippines because we prefer aranic/english speakers. If we go away on holiday for more than 10 days we send them home as well so that may offset the strange hours

pink-bunny48438

10

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 07:13

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. They each have their own room, TV, laptop, Phones and food and toiletries and bough each week during the shopping. you sound like a very nice family to work for. just out of curiosity - do you mind me asking? - do you also give every Friday off? 10 hours max working days? yearly paid trip to home country? this might be dubai's best kept secret then.... watch out for new kind of classified ads by the maids: 'esmeralda, 38, from philippines, looking for a housmaid job, prefers to only work in emirati / european / british family..... ;-)

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 20:08

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. This is not the norm though, for Emiratis and many other Nationalities. Oh, I understand that, my point was only that 700 to 800 aed per month from Emirati families is definitely not the norm which was something another poster was claiming. No, I meant it is the norm for EMIRATI families to pay 700 pm. ETA how many Emirati families do you know? edited by Al Quwatain on 13/01/2012 Oh no I disagree, not the norm. How many do I know? Not sure. I am part of one that has several different households Then there are friends in both Dubai and AD., I don't know a bunch!

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 20:04

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. This is not the norm though, for Emiratis and many other Nationalities. Oh, I understand that, my point was only that 700 to 800 aed per month from Emirati families is definitely not the norm which was something another poster was claiming. No, I meant it is the norm for EMIRATI families to pay 700 pm. ETA how many Emirati families do you know? <em>edited by Al Quwatain on 13/01/2012</em>

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 18:44

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. This is not the norm though, for Emiratis and many other Nationalities. Oh, I understand that, my point was only that 700 to 800 aed per month from Emirati families is definitely not the norm which was something another poster was claiming.

Al Quwatain51756

535

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 18:30

We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. This is not the norm though, for Emiratis and many other Nationalities.

175

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 14:45

Thanks everyone for your input! Have found a fab filipino housekeeper with impeccable British references & so far so good... Just FYI, this is what we have agreed on... AED 2000/month Fridays off 100AED/week for her own food/toiletries (my suggestion), paid Sunday each week. 8am-6pm 6 days per week We will swap a half day off for a nights babysitting if mutually agreable & organised 1 week in advance. 25 AED/hour for overtime if required. Coffee break mid morning & lunch break when ever she wants, or she can skip lunch break & finish 1 hour earlier on the nights she goes to bible class. No loans, but will pay her twice a month in arrears (2nd & 19th of each month) I occasionally top up her mobile phone at my discretion. She has her own single room with plenty of storage space & the rest from Ikea, TV, large fridge, bathroom. She cooks in our kitchen, has her own shelf in our pantry. It's a deal that seems fair, she's happy, I'm happy, the baby is happy, the dogs are happy! Now we've just got to keep communication open so that there's no confusion as we learn to work together. I had to register so that I can write my opinion to your discussion. Normally I just read the posts…. My maid came home last Friday asking for 40% raise!!! WHY do you ladies raise the maids salaries so much???? Five years ago all the maids were making 700-800 aed and they were happy! Emiratis are still paying 700-800 aed/month as of now. 700-800 is still a fortune in their country! Why are you paying 3 times as much?? I pay my maid 1,200, and can’t afford to pay more. I have to work and my husband has to work so that we can survive. We need a maid to help take care of the kids in the afternoon, I have no family to help me. You are putting us – employers who can’t pay 1,500-2,000+++ – out of the market. Before anyone tells me to go home if I can’t afford to live here, this IS my home, I have nowhere to return to, I grew up here, you are probably the one who is new here! You probably don’t understand how much you are hurting families who really need a maid. I am trying to understand why someone who doesn’t work even needs a maid?? You are putting us – families who are not here on big expat packages – in a big disadvantage and under a lot of pressure. Also, you are putting your maids sister or cousin or compatriots out of the market as well, since fewer families will be able to afford a a maid, and there will be much less jobs available. A few of my friends had to give up a maid, because they couldn’t keep up with the raising salaries. Now I understand why some employers don’t allow the maid to go out on their own or to even talk to other maids – they don’t want them to be influenced by some spoiled maids…. Am a newbie so I may not be up on this thread but I was reading through it and HAD to comment on Dina B saying that Emiratis still pay their maids 700 or 800 aed a month and any more is spoiled. We (Emirati DH) pay both the people who live with us well over 2K a month which is all salary. They each have their own room, TV, laptop, Phones and food and toiletries and bough each week during the shopping. What you are doing Dina is not just illegal bu IMO inhumane. Sorry to be so strict, but I was shocked to read your post.

1811

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 14:21

To interject and verify that the Philippine government want all their overseas domestic workers to be paid a minimum wage of 400USD globally, regardless of which country they are working in. This is to protect them against exploitation and low wages. . I think the law was introduced to increase the amount of money coming into the country from domestic workers. If the government really cared about its people it would try to reform so that mothers of young children do not have to leave them to work overseas to support their families. The country is colluding in exploiting its female population. <em>edited by A Rancher on 13/01/2012</em>

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 07:49

No, Im not being taken advantage of, thats my point. I will not pay 1400 plus full board and medical with 2 months vaca a year. No way. I am saying yes, there are maids that might be worth it...but how can a maids salary and a professional hotel workers salary be equal? how can people expect 2 months off a year? [u'>[b'>the latest ive heard is that if they dont go home, you must pay the plane ticket value to them in cash?[/b'>[/u'> No, that is not what I agreed to. My point is that these demands by the domestic help, are getting out of hand. If they were hotel workers, they would not get the same salary? they would not get 2 months off a year or a chance to work under the table. I know some might be worth it, but all i am saying is do a salary comparion .....Check around, see what the salarys are for maids in hotels, what the benefits are, and maybe adjust. Someone said a IT person- low level- was making just a few thousand a month. Is IT and maid equal in your eyes? This is in the contract you sign at Immigration. Yes, but every year youre required to give them a month off? or pay them the cash value of a ticket. I agreed to every 2 years not every year? tbh this is one of the things that does NOT make sense on the contract! It says Contract length is for 2 years but how can it be when we ( foreigners) are only allowed to make a visa for one year at a time...? I therefore read it that the Articles mentioned apply to that year of employment. Can anyone clarify on this point? ie Why does it say the length of contract is 2 years? Are we using a form which is really for nationals and they just do that as there is not another one???

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 01:04

honestly, was never ever told about a 400 dollar figure. signed a contract for Dhs not a dollar amount. agreed to medical, food, clothes and extras, on top of the cash. but SERIOUSLY never saw a 400 dollar amount on anything. Just came oct 31...... went through a agency, so all legal also.......

504

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 01:01

it is not just a recommendation, it is a requirement (a) at the Philippine end, when they do the paperwork they have to do there, and (b) (supposed to be; though it appears enforcement is being neglected) at the end of the country with the agreement with the Philippines.... And if you put in your contract the lower salary and it gets approved, it is true you are not breaking a UAE law. Where you are breaking it is if you put the higher salary in the contract with a side agreement that you won't actually pay it (which also happens, though is presumably not necessary if they aren't enforcing)

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 00:51

To interject and verify that the Philippine government want all their overseas domestic workers to be paid a minimum wage of 400USD globally, regardless of which country they are working in. This is to protect them against exploitation and low wages. Minimum wages have been set by the embassies of the workers, not the DNRD or UAE government. You are definitely not breaking any UAE law by paying less than the embassy recommended minimum salary. ...i dont think the number is enforced. its a recommendation.

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 00:48

No, Im not being taken advantage of, thats my point. I will not pay 1400 plus full board and medical with 2 months vaca a year. No way. I am saying yes, there are maids that might be worth it...but how can a maids salary and a professional hotel workers salary be equal? how can people expect 2 months off a year? [u'>[b'>the latest ive heard is that if they dont go home, you must pay the plane ticket value to them in cash?[/b'>[/u'> No, that is not what I agreed to. My point is that these demands by the domestic help, are getting out of hand. If they were hotel workers, they would not get the same salary? they would not get 2 months off a year or a chance to work under the table. I know some might be worth it, but all i am saying is do a salary comparion .....Check around, see what the salarys are for maids in hotels, what the benefits are, and maybe adjust. Someone said a IT person- low level- was making just a few thousand a month. Is IT and maid equal in your eyes? This is in the contract you sign at Immigration. Yes, but every year youre required to give them a month off? or pay them the cash value of a ticket. I agreed to every 2 years not every year?

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 13 January 2012 - 00:45

I think it says a lot that maids get half the "minimum" maid wage when employed as 'cleaners' on a regular employee visa by companies like Howdra and Explorer. Change the type of visa - and the wage is doubled. Yet its the same work. I'm not saying I agree with one or the other. But it just begs the question - why? There aren't minimums for other employee categories - including categories that entail education and qualifications. 1400aed plus food and accommodation is alot not only in their home countries - but a lot compared to their compatriots here in dubai. How is it that they can enforce minimum wages for one category and not the other? This is dont know the answer to- but would be curious to find out. I guess SK, I am putting things into perspective the last month. Mainly cause this subject has come up....Also mine expects to work a few morning hours only because of Ramadan. So thats another month. I guess Im really getting peeved at this knowing that in the USA we have a law for 2 weeks vaca, not paid necessarily, and here I have domestic help expecting to go home paid for 2 months, really, my husband doesnt get 2 months off a year at a high level job? Perspective. Im putting it all in perspective. I do repect everyones opinions very much, just feel its getting out of hand.... Why 2 months vacation paid a year? They get one month paid vacation after contract completion. Yes, I agree...i have seen were the family goes back to home country, and the maid cannot be brought. Mine will not come with me for the summer. She will stay here, but do nothing while we are gone. Of course I also think a return ticket home is reasonable, but why are some people stating that it must be paid after 1 year? Also, she goes for a month then? My maid also needs to work half time for ramadan, I guess Im just saying that all in all, seems like alot of time off.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 21:24

I think it says a lot that maids get half the "minimum" maid wage when employed as 'cleaners' on a regular employee visa by companies like Howdra and Explorer. Change the type of visa - and the wage is doubled. Yet its the same work. I'm not saying I agree with one or the other. But it just begs the question - why? There aren't minimums for other employee categories - including categories that entail education and qualifications. 1400aed plus food and accommodation is alot not only in their home countries - but a lot compared to their compatriots here in dubai. How is it that they can enforce minimum wages for one category and not the other? This is dont know the answer to- but would be curious to find out. I guess SK, I am putting things into perspective the last month. Mainly cause this subject has come up....Also mine expects to work a few morning hours only because of Ramadan. So thats another month. I guess Im really getting peeved at this knowing that in the USA we have a law for 2 weeks vaca, not paid necessarily, and here I have domestic help expecting to go home paid for 2 months, really, my husband doesnt get 2 months off a year at a high level job? Perspective. Im putting it all in perspective. I do repect everyones opinions very much, just feel its getting out of hand.... Why 2 months vacation paid a year? They get one month paid vacation after contract completion.

spongemonkey980

4329

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 21:22

No, Im not being taken advantage of, thats my point. I will not pay 1400 plus full board and medical with 2 months vaca a year. No way. I am saying yes, there are maids that might be worth it...but how can a maids salary and a professional hotel workers salary be equal? how can people expect 2 months off a year? [u'>[b'>the latest ive heard is that if they dont go home, you must pay the plane ticket value to them in cash?[/b'>[/u'> No, that is not what I agreed to. My point is that these demands by the domestic help, are getting out of hand. If they were hotel workers, they would not get the same salary? they would not get 2 months off a year or a chance to work under the table. I know some might be worth it, but all i am saying is do a salary comparion .....Check around, see what the salarys are for maids in hotels, what the benefits are, and maybe adjust. Someone said a IT person- low level- was making just a few thousand a month. Is IT and maid equal in your eyes? This is in the contract you sign at Immigration.

604

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 21:16

Therefore in Singapore, we had it written into our contract with the maid that I would pay 400 USD min. so I paid my helper 600 SGD per month, plus food allowance (SGD 150), plus medical (but some medical is covered by the compulsory insurance policy you have to buy for the helper) but outpatient medical is not covered. So this 400 USD = 1472 AED. So I paid 1800 AED salary, and food allowance of 450 AED per month. No phone or TV provided, as the maid should be working hard throughout the day and not have time to be watching TV or making long phone calls. My helper worked 7.30 am (she tried to start at 7 am but I told her to go eat breakfast and not come into the house until 7.30 am and finished most nights at 9.30pm (after our eve meal). Sunday off, babysit included. Singapore rules are home leave flight only at end of work permit (2 years) and if not renewing contract this flight would be for return to home country. If renewing contract you could offer the flight and 2 weeks leave OR maid can take the value of the flight as a cash payment. All very reasonable I think, and I do agree with some posters on this thread that there is a tendency towards excess here, with all the extra perks! namely TV, Phones and laptops....it is making the maids greedy, easily tempted to switch to a new employer and not work as hard as they should.

604

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 21:12

To interject and verify that the Philippine government want all their overseas domestic workers to be paid a minimum wage of 400USD globally, regardless of which country they are working in. This is to protect them against exploitation and low wages. Minimum wages have been set by the embassies of the workers, not the DNRD or UAE government. You are definitely not breaking any UAE law by paying less than the embassy recommended minimum salary.

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 20:59

Yes Cat Ksa, youre right, and if i have one for years- her wage would go up..... I like you mentioned proactive, good trait....seems as if you have a professional...and one who is up to her job. I do like my maid just fine, but am still adjusting to it all after 2 months. I do feel as if I have to tell her, ok, wash the floors...blah blah...she let it all go one week, cause i didnt tell her to do it.....i like proactive! i want proactive! hand to tell her not to wash kids hands in bidet....yes....

393

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 20:07

I'm with Sandfly 100%. Sure every maid would like to earn in excess of Dhs2000 but only the ones that are worth that are going to earn it in the long run. When we interviewed maids they had all sorts of demands and expectations -- we didn't hire any of them. They either had to rethink their expectations to find a job or pull the wool over somebody's eyes to get the job they wanted. We found a maid with a great personal recommendation and hired her at slightly above average wage. She has been with us for 4 years and proved invaluable ---- she is smart, hardworking, proactive, cheerful, conscientious, trustworthy, honest etc. We now pay her over Dhs2000 a month. I know what the average salary is and I'm not getting ripped off...I'm getting what I pay for. I don't want a maid that is desparate and will work for Dhs700; I don't want a maid that will cause the problems that to others are par for the course; I don't want a maid I have to watch over 24/7 for fear that if I leave her out of her room she's going to get us both in trouble. I want the maid we were lucky enough to find and I'm going to pay to make sure that we keep her and that she's happy and remains an asset to our household. I'm not making it harder for people that want to pay less to hire maids; as someone else pointed out if Dhs700 a month is much more than most can make at home there are always going to be people that will take a job for that amount (despite whether it is a fair wage or not). Sure, many will ask for more but they aren't likely to get it. I'm paying a higher salary to ensure I get someone at the higher end of the workforce.

314

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 15:36

I think it says a lot that maids get half the "minimum" maid wage when employed as 'cleaners' on a regular employee visa by companies like Howdra and Explorer. Change the type of visa - and the wage is doubled. Yet its the same work. I'm not saying I agree with one or the other. But it just begs the question - why? There aren't minimums for other employee categories - including categories that entail education and qualifications. 1400aed plus food and accommodation is alot not only in their home countries - but a lot compared to their compatriots here in dubai. How is it that they can enforce minimum wages for one category and not the other? This is dont know the answer to- but would be curious to find out. I guess SK, I am putting things into perspective the last month. Mainly cause this subject has come up....Also mine expects to work a few morning hours only because of Ramadan. So thats another month. I guess Im really getting peeved at this knowing that in the USA we have a law for 2 weeks vaca, not paid necessarily, and here I have domestic help expecting to go home paid for 2 months, really, my husband doesnt get 2 months off a year at a high level job? Perspective. Im putting it all in perspective. I do repect everyones opinions very much, just feel its getting out of hand....

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