Saturday, January 25, 2014
Are maids suppose to work 24/7 all week long?
Muna Al-Fuzai
Are maids suppose to work 24/7 all week long? Do male domestic workers get more freedom than females? Is this a gender issue? I don't know of many places on earth that implement such a 24/7 theory in which maids are available at the sponsor's beck and call.
Some sponsors think it is all right to deal with the maid just like any piece of furniture that can be moved in and out any time they wish! The increase in complaints by maids on not getting a day off are becoming a matter of concern. I really think we need to adopt part-time services through agencies instead of the 24/7 fulltime service, which is not fair at all.
There are some sponsors who allow their maids a regular day off plus extra days on certain occasions such as Christmas and national holidays. They are not many, and it is common among many families here that maids are not given a day off. What really upsets me is the discrimination in this matter.
A male servant is allowed to go and enjoy a day off, but a female maid is not, even if both are working in the same house with the same pressure, if not more. I think as much as we need awareness about maids' rights with a day off and getting paid on time, we need to have local campaigns targeting the sponsors and how they would feel if they were forced to keep working all week long with no day off ! I'm sure if such a proposal is made, anger will be spread everywhere, calling such actions as inhumane.
Some sponsors thinks they are entitled to wake up the maid at night to prepare a late dinner or a snack. Some think it is okay to have their cars cleaned before they go to work by 7 am, so the maid has to wash the car earlier, and in this weather, I wonder if washing the car early in the morning is essential. Not all sponsors are alike. Some are real kind to their maids and would never want to trouble them with extra work late at night, but there are other sponsors who are actual abusers.
They want their maids available 24/7 for serving them like slaves and this creates more pressure on the maid and can lead to many serious problems, mental if not physical . Another issue here for some maids is the fact that they don't get enough rest during the day, especially those who work for large families. The problems here is that to whom they should or can complain? I know some would say that for any salary complaints, they can approach the ministry of social affairs and labour.
The labour department is the right channel for them, but most maids are not educated and come from villages, and would not know how to lodge official complaints or who would help them there. The embassies are the wings of these helpless maids and they should always keep in touch with them and any complaints of abuse or mistreatment should not be ignored. The media also should be the voice of all helpless maids whose rights are withheld, and a day off is their right.
By Muna Al-Fuzai
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