The Hidden Costs of Domestic Staff

The Real Hidden Costs of Sponsoring –Domestic Staff

How a maids monthly salary of AED3,000 is actually costing the employer AED7,953 per month….something you may not have considered……

The over paying of Housemaids in Dubai has become something of a highly debated topic spreading over all social media sites, ladies coffee mornings, and of course, lets not forget our friends and allies in immigration, who consider us foreigners somewhat weak in our capabilities to engage good domestic help, and retain them over a period longer than a few mother and baby swim meets.

Now if I have become somewhat cynical ,that is because I am exasperated at the “demand” for high costing housemaids.

Lets consider this’ll inclusive Monthly salary AED7,933 pm.

An executive, highly qualified administration or PA earns this monthly salary.

A qualified Asian accountant with 3+ years post qualified experience receives this monthly salary.

Some real estate agents don’t earn this on a monthly commission.

Hospital nurses, dental assistants, and most school assistants don’t earn this salary equivalent.

You know of these trendy fashionable coffee houses spreading up all over Dubai……their wonderful Oz, Croatian, Swedish, South African, Bulgarian, Polish good looking staff with strong English, and Hospitality degrees are NOT earning this salary equivalent .

Sponsors agreeing to the demands of unqualified Housemaids getting paid excessive salaries are not helping themselves gain a “better quality ” housemaid/nanny……they are ruining the building bridge of mutual employee/employer relations, and in fact contributing to damaging the whole industry.

Domestic Staff Costs—-What are we really paying for ?

In the sponsoring process of any live in domestic help ( Maid, cook, nanny, Au-Pair, driver, handyman etc) there are many hidden extras which we do not always consider in the “actual “ costs

This may not be popular to note the following, however these are real costs…which are Bourne by  the sponsor.

Let’s talk about their live-in accommodation: ( YOU DO PAY FOR RENT/MORTGAGE OFFSET…IT’S A COST..FOR THIS PURPOSE OF ILLUSTRATION, WE HAVE ASSUMED A RENTAL COST)

Assuming the following:

NOTES:

If you utilise a quality a recruitment agency, expect fees ranging from AED15K-24K.

 All Domestic Visas are valid for one year ONLY

Companies that provide Housekeeping staff, can offer the same Housekeeper for a contracted period of 2 years minimum….and monthly charges range around the AED 4200  (All incl.)

Conclusion!…..anybody considering the hiring of the housemaids……consider all the costs, and the potential loss of money if they don’t work out…..

The Housekeeping Co and its associated Companies can offer company provided staff, or offer you the recruitment, training and successful placement of a new Domestic employee……going through an agency offers tried and tested methods, and statistics prove that these methods provide longer retention of staff, therefore spreading costs over a longer time frame, results in better cost efficiency for you and your family.

If you get it right, they are the biggest asset to a working, functional family…we wish for you the best in your Housekeeping.