The push for the standardisation of domestic help contracts by the Federal National Council is a sound one. As The National reported yesterday, the FNC has been told that this could be the answer to sponsors' dissatisfaction with the hiring fees set by recruitment agencies, which many of them perceive to be too high. Sultan Al Mansouri, head of the Higher Committee for Consumer Protection at the FNC, told the council that there should be more collaboration between the ministries of labour and interior to address the issue.
Indeed, there are several issues that need to be addressed. One is whether the recruitment cost includes the proper training of domestic staff before they come to the UAE. If this is the case, then higher fees are justifiable because employers should expect a certain basic skill level from their domestic help. For example, an unsophisticated person coming from a poor rural village in the Philippines could struggle to adapt to life in a typical UAE household, and any money spent on their education and training would be a good investment for both them and their employer.
However, it seems that some recruitment agencies are raising their fees without spending any more on training. As Ali Al Nuaimi, an FNC member from Ajman, noted, fees tend to rise and fall at different times of the year, and there is no transparency in this process. That provides a good argument for the regulation and monitoring of those agencies, and for the introduction of a standard contract.
Another important issue is the minimum wage set out in contracts. Domestic staff usually work long hours, with various responsibilities ranging from cleaning and cooking to looking after children. Without them, many women would not be able to work outside their homes and some households simply would not function. Unfortunately, some employers don’t seem to value the work of their maids and other staff. Despite their invaluable contribution to society and the economy, domestic staff often do not get the respect they deserve.
The proposal to have a nationwide standard contract for domestic staff from all nationalities is one step towards improving their conditions and bringing stability to the relationship between them and their employers. It should be followed by more legal protections according to intentional standards. Domestic staff deserve more appreciation and support.