Draft law for MDW in Abu Dhabi/Dubai

Residents, employers welcome more rights for domestic workers 

By Janice Ponce de Leon, Staff Reporter
Published: 00:00 May 4, 2012 Gulf News

 Abu Dhabi/Dubai: A new draft law which aims to ensure decent working and living conditions for domestic workers, was well received by various segments of society across the country, with workers specifically hoping it could help lessen maltreatment and absconding cases among housemaids.

Approved by the Cabinet in January, the bill will take effect once it passes the Federal National Council and is signed into law by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

With the new law, domestic helpers will be entitled to an end-of-service gratuity, at least one weekly day off, and a written contract of employment. Employers will also have to pay the recruitment agency fees and pay the maids' salaries in cash at least once a month.

"Once they implement this law, I think the number of housemaids who abscond from their employers will lessen," Lanie Sanchez, a Filipino housemaid who is the vice president of an organisation of domestic helpers in Dubai, told Gulf News. 

"Most housemaids who run away from their bosses usually complain of maltreatment or non-payment of salaries. Others complain of no day off. With these covered under the new law, I think these problems will lessen," Sanchez added.

Helen, an Ethiopian housemaid who absconded from her employers last year, agreed. 

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