No ban on recruiting Indian maids

Indian government had introduced 'eMigrate' project under its e-governance programme, aimed at keeping track of the labourers (including maids) who move out of India.

According to Indian missions in the UAE, banning the recruitment of domestic helps is not a solution for the problems faced by a few of them. So the Indian government has established systems to make the recruitment more transparent.
Indian government had introduced 'eMigrate' project under its e-governance programme, aimed at keeping track of the labourers (including maids) who move out of India. It also helps in controlling the cases of exploitation and abuse. Indian Missions in the UAE encourages workers or house maids to register themselves on the website to avoid any problems in the future but thinks banning domestic helps is not a solution, said an envoy.
"We don't believe in banning the recruitment of domestic helps rather there has to be a legal channel for people who are desirous of employment outside India. Of course, the UAE have no such issues and our prime minister is appreciative of the labour laws of this country as well. During his visit to the UAE, he went to labour accommodations and had seen their conditions himself," said Anurag Bhushan, Consul-General of India in Dubai.
He added: "We are always very vigilant about the unsuspected people taking advantage of the domestic helps. We provide them adequate protection. Besides the eMigrate system, we have additional safeguards for the maids, such as deposits. The cases of maids' abuse or exploitation are very few in the UAE."
Despite the system in place, issues occur when people land in the UAE on visit visas and take on the jobs, said another official at the consulate. "First of all, it's not legal and then if they get into any kind of trouble, it becomes difficult to trace and help them," he said.
As per the rules of Indian government, the minimum wage for an Indian housemaid is Dh1,100. Permission for recruitment is granted only if the contract is for this amount or higher. Once the maid arrives through the eMigrate procedure, both the sponsor and the maid have to visit the consulate for the maid's entry interview, where both the sponsor and the maid are briefed about their do's and don'ts in their preferred choice of language. In the entry interview, it is also explained to the sponsor and the maid that a mobile with a SIM card and a minimum refill of Dh20 has to be provided by the sponsor to the maid, so that in case they face any issues, they can contact the consulate.
In case of problems between the sponsor and maid both the parties are called to the consulate to reach an amicable solution. Normally, Emirati sponsors follow the local practice and report the matters to the police and Immigration authorities. But in the cases that were brought to the knowledge of the consulate, the cases are resolved amicably through negotiation.
In case of absconding maids, the sponsor has to file a complaint with the immigration department, and also inform the consulate. If the maid approaches the consulate, then the sponsor is called to resolve the issue. As per local laws, once an absconding report is filed, they will be deported with a life ban.
118 illegal maids seek consulate's assistance
Any female worker who arrive on a tourist/visit visa and obtain work permit inside the UAE without following eMigrate procedure is considered an illegal maid by the Government of India.
Some of these housemaids run away from their sponsor's house due to various reasons and work illegally.
The number of illegal housemaids who had approached the consulate in the first 10 months of 2016 is 118 and they were assisted for their safe return to India. However, there are unaccounted number of illegal maids who go back to India on their own if they have no issues concerning their passport, visa and air tickets.
Procedure to recruit Indian maids
1. The employer needs to register at www.emigrate.gov.in
2. Once registration is over, wait for login ID and password which will come through your email ID. (In case you face any technical problems, refer to: eMigrate Helpdesk -0091-11-26887772 orhelpdesk@emigrate.gov.in_
3. Once you receive login ID and password, the employer can visit IVS Global in Oud Metha to submit documents, which include: No-relationship Affidavit (applicable only for Indian families), refundable deposit of Dh9,200, visa copy of the employee, offer letter prepared by the sponsor with signature and passport copy of the employee, along with the login ID & password
4. When the visa copy is attested, an agreement will be generated through eMigrate System and that agreement will be sent to the employee.
5. The agreement with attested visa copy will be sent to the employee for getting immigration clearance online from Protector of Emigrants.
Authorised recruitment agencies in India
NORKA-Roots - Kerala
Overseas Development and Employment Promotion Consultant (ODEPC) Kerala
Overseas Manpower Corporation Ltd (OMCL) - Tamil Nadu
Uttar Pradesh Financial Corporation (UPFC) - Uttar Pradesh
Overseas Manpower Company A.P. Ltd. (OMCAP) - Andhra Pradesh
Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Limited (TOMCOM) -Telangana
ankita@khaleejtimes.com
 

• UAE