The Economic Times of India (and other papers) have posted this report entitled ‘India Fixes Minimum Wage for Female Household Workers’ 21 February 2008:DUBAI: “India has fixed a minimum wage for its female household service workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at 1,100 dirhams ($300) per month.
"The minimum wage will be 1,100 dirhams per month, besides provision of free food, accommodation and return airfare," the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi on Thursday said, stipulating that only Indian women over the age of 30 could apply for such household jobs.
The intending employer in the UAE will also have to show that his minimum income is at least 10,000 dirhams ($2,723) per month, the embassy said.
According to the new rules, any intending employer will have to approach the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi or the consulate in Dubai accompanied by an Indian national of good standing who would personally guarantee the character and social standing of the intending employer.”
This report and the new standards have great interest for the domestic workers and observers of human rights, particularly in the light of surveys that have reported cases of abuse and other forms of injustice. One such report is posted at this link.
Dr. Geoff Pound
Image: Indian women.
