A domestic worker takes a child out for a stroll in the Nad Al Sheba neighbourhood in Dubai. The National
A domestic worker takes a child out for a stroll in the Nad Al Sheba neighbourhood in Dubai. The National
A domestic worker takes a child out for a stroll in the Nad Al Sheba neighbourhood in Dubai. The National
A domestic worker takes a child out for a stroll in the Nad Al Sheba neighbourhood in Dubai. The National

UAE families must now earn Dh25,000 to sponsor a maid


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Residents planning to sponsor a domestic worker must now earn at least Dh25,000 a month – an increase of almost Dh20,000 – potentially creating childcare issues for thousands of families across the UAE.

The requirement, previously only Dh6,000, will leave those who earn under the threshold unable to sponsor domestic staff.

But experts say the rule change will be a particular blow to working parents who do not meet the salary sponsorship requirements, due to a lack of part time employment options and early school finishing times.

The customer service hotline for Tadbeer, a network of recruitment centres regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, said the change was implemented last year.

It applies to domestic service contracts processed through government agencies such as Tadbeer, as well as individual applications via typing centres.

It is understood the requirement applies to the total household income, however, families with combined incomes of more than Dh25,000 a month have struggled to sponsor domestic workers.

One woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said an application made by her husband, a teacher who earns Dh13,000 a month, was initially refused on the basis of his salary. She also works, and together they earn more than Dh25,000 per month.

My salary certificate is too small and I am not able to sponsor a maid under these rules

“We tried to do it ourselves first through the typing center but it was rejected because of the rule,” she said.

Her husband then applied for the sponsorship through Tadbeer, but it was rejected again on the same basis.

“The application was done through Tadbeer but the rejection came from a government office.

“It seems in Arabic somewhere it mentions family income and not sponsor income, but the people reviewing the documents in one of the government offices assumed as it was sponsor income only.”

The application was eventually approved after the couple proved they collectively earned more than Dh25,000 a month.

“We managed after various visits to all the government offices to make them accept the application using both our salary certificates,” she said.

She said her husband asked a Tadbeer employee what someone would do who earned less than the threshold.

“The guy replied that most of the people coming there have salaries above Dh25,000. My husband is a teacher. Imagine how many teachers are in this country with salaries less than Dh25,000.”

Staff at recruitment agency Quality Domestic Service Workers said the labour ministry can make exemptions for single mothers. But it does not “usually grant approval to hire a maid if the woman is earning less than Dh25,000”.

Agatha, a single, working mother of one who asked not to share her full name, was told by staff at Dubai Municipality Al Manara Centre her salary was too low to employ a domestic worker.

“My salary certificate is too small and I am not able to sponsor a maid under these rules.

“I was advised by Tadbeer that I could apply for an exemption to the rules from the government. But there was no guarantee it would be made.”

Another mother, who did not want to be named, has employed the same woman for five years and called Tadbeer to check what paperwork she needed for the renewal.

“I was told I now needed to earn Dh25,000 if I was to sponsor a new housemaid. They did say if I was renewing the contract of an existing maid, I would not have to show my monthly salary.”

Gina Dillon, an administrator of the UAE Housemaids Facebook group, which helps domestic service workers find positions with families, said the news will be unwelcome to many families with children.

“This will be a big blow to working families with combined incomes that do not reach the income requirement. Alternative options [for childcare] are limited,” she said.

Companies such as Maids.cc offer one such option.

A spokeswoman for the company said it employs domestic workers on behalf of its clients without the need to complete government paperwork.

“All the candidates are under our sponsorship, so a minimum monthly salary is not required.”

The labour ministry was contacted for comment.

RESULTS

1.45pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Lady Parma, Richard Mullen (jockey), Satish Seemar (trainer).
2.15pm: Maiden Dh75,000 1,200m
Winner: Tabernas, Connor Beasley, Ahmed bin Harmash.
2.45pm: Handicap Dh95,000 1,200m
Winner: Night Castle, Connor Beasley, Satish Seemar.
3.15pm: Handicap Dh120,000 1,400m
Winner: Mystique Moon, Sam Hitchcott, Doug Watson.
3.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Mutawakked, Szczepan Mazur, Musabah Al Muhairi.
4.15pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,800m
Winner: Tafaakhor, Sandro Paiva, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
4.45pm: Handicap Dh80,000 1,950m
Winner: Cranesbill, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups

Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.

Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.

Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.

Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.

Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.

Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.

Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.

Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.

The biog

Family: wife, four children, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren

Reads: Newspapers, historical, religious books and biographies

Education: High school in Thatta, a city now in Pakistan

Regrets: Not completing college in Karachi when universities were shut down following protests by freedom fighters for the British to quit India 

 

Happiness: Work on creative ideas, you will also need ideals to make people happy

Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

Tips to keep your car cool
  • Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
  • Park in shaded or covered areas
  • Add tint to windows
  • Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
  • Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
  • Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Sour%20Grapes
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EZakaria%20Tamer%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESyracuse%20University%20Press%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E176%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

Labour dispute

The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.


- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
 
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5

KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Analysis

Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.

The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement. 

We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment. 

 

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Results:

5pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600 metres

Winner: Dasan Da, Saeed Al Mazrooei (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m

Winner: AF Saabah, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m

Winner: Mukaram, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m

Winner: MH Tawag, Richard Mullen, Elise Jeanne

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) | Dh70,000 | 1,400m

Winner: RB Inferno, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed

7.30pm: Handicap (TB) | Dh100,000 | 1,600m

Winner: Juthoor, Jim Crowley, Erwan Charpy

MATCH INFO

South Africa 66 (Tries: De Allende, Nkosi, Reinach (3), Gelant, Steyn, Brits, Willemse; Cons: Jantjies 8) 

Canada 7 (Tries: Heaton; Cons: Nelson)

Our family matters legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

The specs

AT4 Ultimate, as tested

Engine: 6.2-litre V8

Power: 420hp

Torque: 623Nm

Transmission: 10-speed automatic

Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)

On sale: Now