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New laws will offer greater protection to domestic workers, Indian embassy

Abu Dhabi - The India government has placed restrictions on hiring overseas female domestic workers who are in the ECR (Emigration Clearance Required) category

The UAE government's move to introduce new laws that will guarantee paid leaves and weekly off to domestic workers will bring greater protection to housemaids, according to a senior official at the Indian embassy in the UAE.
"We welcome the move. Domestic workers are a vulnerable labour category. Through the new law, we hope, domestic workers will also be brought under the protection of the Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry so that they enjoy similar wage protection and rights like other labour categories," said Dinesh Kumar, First Secretary, Community Affairs at the embassy.
Since introduction of e-Migrate system in 2015 for recruiting Indian workers in the UAE, including domestic workers, he said Indian embassy is able to vet the process. "All foreign employers who seek to recruit Indian workers now need to register with the system and the application will be vetted by us. But the problem with domestic workers is that many still enter the country by circumventing the rules. Some come on visit visas and then secure employment visas making it impossible for us to maintain a database of Indian domestic workers in the country," said Dinesh.
"There are also many who got hired before the E-Migrant system came into effect and continue to work as domestic help."
The India government has placed restrictions on hiring overseas female domestic workers who are in the ECR (Emigration Clearance Required) category. Female domestic workers in the ECR category should be above 30 years of age, and employers have to pay a security deposit of Dh9,200 with the Indian embassy that will approve a labour contract.
"Male drivers and cooks also fall under the domestic workers category. But currently they don't enjoy any such protective measures. We hope the new law will cover them as well," said Kumar.
Kumar said the implementation will be a challenge. "We have to hope for a change in the mindset of employers first. They should consider these proposed laws from a humanitarian point of view and willingly abide by them.
"In many cases, it is almost impossible for a domestic worker to reach out to law-enforcement authorities with grievances. If she is not even allowed to go out of the employer's house, how can we expect her to fight for her rights?" asked Kumar.
The embassy, on an average receives 10 to 20 complaints a month from domestic workers.
The proposed laws have elicited mixed reaction from many employers, including Indian families that hire domestic help.
"I have concerns about giving my domestic help weekly off. And believe me, I have had bad experiences in the past. My previous housemaid was allowed a day off on Fridays, but she developed a relationship with a man and got pregnant. She was married and had two children back home, And I had no choice but sent her back," said an Indian housewife in Abu Dhabi who did not want to be named.
Another Indian family in Abu Dhabi said families of domestic helps are against the idea of letting the woman go out alone. "My house-help's husband does not approve of the idea and he has instructed her to stay at home. Ultimately we are responsible for their safety. So it's not always easy to let them enjoy a day out," said Shahana, an Indian resident.
"We do not give our domestic help a weekly off day. But Fridays are usually a lean day without much work. However, she is allowed to go out only with us," said another employer who did not want to be identified.
anjana@khaleejtimes.com