I’ve just moved to Abu Dhabi with my family and am thinking about hiring a maid. How do I go about this? I’m thinking it would save money to share one with another family. Is this possible?
With the lengthy hours most of us work in Abu Dhabi, it’s no wonder people who’ll look after the kids, cook and tidy up are sought-after professionals. Whether you agree with the idea of domestic help or not, the fact remains that plenty of women from countries such as the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia come to the UAE to seek such employment. Prices are predictably cheap, with it costing you Dhs700 to Dhs1,200 per month for a live-in maid, or Dhs500 to Dhs1,000 per month for one who visits.
The easiest way to find someone suitable is through an agency. Some of the more reputable ones are Clean Plus Services (02 645 6800) and Wilson International (02 667 1200), who’ll sort out sponsorship paperwork for you and allow you to choose from a list of potential candidates.
The answer to your second question is a definite no; you can’t share a maid with another family as they’re employed, in accordance with UAE labour laws, under your visa. So if a friend asks to borrow your maid to look after their kids for a while, point blank refuse. Ministry of Labour laws state that you can be fined Dhs50,000 for employing a worker who is not sponsored by you, or who you’re paying cash in hand, while the maid herself will face a Dhs100,000 fine, could be sent to prison and be banned from entering the country for a year. In short, don’t share her with anyone.
Also, whether you found your maid through an agency or elsewhere, you’ll need to sponsor their domestic worker visa, which you have to apply for through the Abu Dhabi Naturalisation and Residency Department (02 446 2244). You’ll have to pay a fee of Dhs5,000 to the immigration office, be able to prove your monthly income after the cost of accommodation is not less than Dhs6,500 and provide the cost of an air ticket for your maid.
You can hire a maid who will work part-time for you, but she will need to be on a visa sponsored by her company, not you. Prices for these range from Dhs20 to Dhs70 per hour. But do make sure you’re using a reputable company so her paperwork is all in order or you’ll be liable to same fines mentioned above. Solutions (02 641 9227) and Delight Cleaning Services (02 678 9216) both have good reputations in the capital.
