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Dubai: Emiratis' demand for Indian housemaids has dropped by 50 per cent, Gulf News has learnt.
Indian diplomatic officials in the UAE attributed the fall in figures to the Dh9,200 mandatory refundable security deposit from sponsors who recruit their housemaids directly from India.
"The increase in wages have played a small role in this decrease but the security deposit is a problem for employers. However, it has not made any difference to the demand for Indian housemaids from Indians," said an embassy official.
New regulations were issued by the Indian Embassy in the UAE for the recruitment of Indian maids on February 20 this year. Under the regulation the minimum wage for housemaids was raised from Dh600 to Dh1,100 per month, as well as the provision of food, accommodation and return airfare.
The regulation also stipulates that if the employer recruits the housemaid from India, they must deposit Dh9,200 with the embassy or consulate or provide a bank guarantee for that amount as a security deposit.
The embassy official said that since the mandatory stipulations for the recruitment of Indian housemaids had been put in place it has become more difficult for employers to dodge the authorities.
"The immigration authorities both in India and the UAE have tightened their grip on violators. A couple of maids who were recruited after the new arrangements were implemented opted to go back home. They did this of their own accord as they were unable to adjust and were homesick," said the official.
The official said that once the maid arrives in the UAE the employer has to bring her to the Indian missions within two weeks to get her registered.
"We take down their mobile number for a follow up. If an employer fails to get the housemaid registered at the Indian mission we give them a reminder," said the official.
Chaterjee, an Indian employer who recruited a maid from India, said that he had to send her back within a month as she was unable to adjust to her new environment.
"I gave the security deposit, got her registered at the Indian missions and even got her a mobile. I just could not imagine the amount of paperwork that had to be done to employ an Indian housemaid.
"I am getting another housemaid and am going through the entire exercise all over again. The paperwork is time-consuming, but in my opinion the stipulations laid out for the welfare of housemaids are justified," he said.
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