Expats can hire domestic workers in Dubai, including maids, housekeepers, and personal drivers. However, there are specific requirements and procedures for employing a domestic worker in the city.
“The new law stipulates that the recruitment or temporary employment of domestic helpers shall not be allowed unless after obtaining a licence from the ministry,” the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre) said. It could be shocking to know that the United Arab Emirates spends around 3 billion dollars annually on house helpers. And it’s a main reason why the MOHRE (the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization) recently issued laws to protect the rights of both employer and employee by requiring specific documents and procedures to maintain these rights.
How do I hire a maid in Dubai or a domestic helper?
The employer must apply for a residence visa for the maid through the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) and obtain an entry permit for the maid. The employer must also sign a standard contract with the maid that outlines the terms and conditions of employment, including the salary, working hours, and days off.
How much does a maid cost in Dubai?
The regulation does not have a specific minimum wage for maids or domestic workers. However, according to the laws of Dubai,
the employer must have a minimum monthly salary of AED 6,000 or AED 5,000 plus accommodation provided for the maid, medical insurance, and annual leave-go and back-tickets. The specific salary for the maid can be negotiated between the employer and the maid and should be outlined in the standard contract that both parties sign. It’s important to ensure that the salary offered is fair and reasonable for the work performed and in line with industry standards.
What are the documents required to hire a domestic helper in Dubai?
- Passport and Emirates ID of the sponsor: The sponsor is the person who will be responsible for the maid’s visa and employment. They must provide their passport and Emirates ID to the maid agency or service.
- Passport and visa of the maid: The maid must have a valid passport and visa in order to work in Dubai. The visa must be sponsored by the employer.
- Medical certificate: The maid must have a valid medical certificate from a doctor in Dubai. The certificate must state that the maid is healthy and fit to work.
- Police clearance certificate: The maid must have a valid police clearance certificate from their home country. The certificate must state that the maid has no criminal record.
- Contract: The employer and maid must sign a contract that outlines the terms of employment. The contract should include the salary, working hours, duties, and vacation days.
The procedures that must be followed to hire a maid in Dubai or a domestic helper
- The employer must register with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
- The employer must apply for a visa for the maid.
- The employer must provide the maid with a medical certificate and police clearance certificate.
- The employer and maid must sign a contract.
- The employer must pay the maid’s salary and provide them with accommodation and food.
It is important to note that there are regulations in place to protect the rights of domestic workers in Dubai. Employers are required to provide their domestic helpers with proper accommodation, food, and medical care, and are not allowed to confiscate their passports or travel documents. The employer is responsible for the maid’s well-being while they are in Dubai. The employer must provide the maid with a safe and healthy working environment and ensure that they are not subjected to any form of abuse.
Employers who fail to comply with these regulations can face fines and other penalties.
The rights of your domestic helper
According to the law, the domestic helper is entitled to a weekly rest day as determined by the executive regulations of this law. The helper may be employed on his or her weekly rest day, but in this case he/she is entitled to an alternative rest day or a cash equivalent to that day, and the helper’s daily rest must not be less than 12 hours per day, subject to a minimum of at least eight continuous hours’ rest.
The annual leave should not be less than 30 paid days for each year, and if the domestic helper is asked to work during all or part of his/her annual leave, and the period is not carried over to the following year, the employer must grant the helper the wages plus a leave allowance equal to his/her wages for the days he/she worked in that period, bearing in mind that the domestic helper may not be asked to work during his/her annual leave more than once during two consecutive years.
If the domestic helper wishes to travel to the home country to spend his/her annual leave, the employer shall pay the value of a two-way ticket once every two years, and if the two parties agree to terminate or not renew the employment contract after the annual leave, the employer shall pay for a one-way ticket only.
The law grants the domestic helper the right to transfer to a new employer, provided that all contractual requirements specified in the contract are fulfilled, taking into account the rights of the original employer, and in accordance with the conditions and procedures in force by the ministry. The employer shall not be bound by the expenses of the helper returning to his/her country if he/she joins another job, in accordance with the provisions of this law and its executive regulations. In short points:
- A fair wage.
- A safe and healthy working environment free from physical and verbal abuse.
- Adequate rest and breaks, and at least one day off per week.
- Paid leave depends on their length of service.
- Medical insurance.
- The right to terminate their contract, giving their employer one month’s notice, unless they are being abused or exploited.
If a maid’s rights are violated, they can file a complaint with the MOHRE. The MOHRE will investigate the complaint and take appropriate action.
Conclusion
Handling the required legal documents can be irritating when you’re an expat in a foreign country, especially when it comes to the legal rights of another person that you’re hiring. There are main duties you have when hiring a domestic helper to stay legally safe.
Let Raha be your safe access
Instead of spending much time collecting information about how to hire a maid in Dubai, inviting one from her country, training her, and spending more time and effort guiding her to do what you need her to do, you can leave the complete burden on Raha, and we will handle everything on your behalf, provide you with the domestic helper you need, fully skilled, trained, and experienced, and cover the legal compliance, dispute, and contract termination. Even if the domestic helper escapes, we guarantee your rights and send you another one without losing any time, money, or effort, and of course, without exposing yourself to a legal violation that you’re not aware of.
Raha will keep your legal situation and reputation clear and safe from risks, yet provide you with the domestic helper you need.
Discover Raha’s full-time Flexible Package for your convenience. Download Raha app. Here.
Sources
- New Domestic Helper Law Safeguards Rights Of All Parties, MoHRE says, October 11, 2022, The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation
- Requirements and costs for a resident house helper in UAE, Sawsan Alsharanee, 29th August, 2022, SPC Free Zone
- Rights of domestic workers in UAE as per labour law 2023, UAE labours.
- New UAE law on domestic helpers: Residents can’t hire maids without licence, Staff Reporter, 11 Oct 2022, Khaleej Times.
