JEDDAH – The Shoura Council still continues its discussiosn on the by-law on domestic house workers that addresses the rights and conditions of housemaids, drivers, gardeners and guards, and those who employ them. Among the new legislation under discussion, which contains some 23 clauses defining the relationship between employee and the employer and his family, are stipulations for a weekly day off, restrictions on working hours, and the employee’s entitlement to an end-of-service benefit after completing four years’ work equivalent to the sum of one month’s salary.
Some are enthusiastic about the new proposals and say they would help address problems that have in recent times become a cause for concern such as runaway maids and drivers and the poor treatment of some children.
Others oppose the moves saying that they will only serve to encourage laxness in duties.
“I got up one morning to find the maid had disappeared,” says Salman Aziz from Jeddah.
“She had been with us for less than two months. We all treated very well, and I can’t think of any reason that would have given her cause to run away. We previously had a housemaid who stayed with us for four years, and was happy with everything. This one has caused me to lose a lot of money.”
“I know that a lot of families treat their workers badly and give no care to their feelings, but that’s not the case here,” he says. “In the end, the housemaid is an employee, and as such should be entitled to set conditions like any other employee, including days off, holidays and so on,” Salman says.
“I’ve read about the new law,” says Abdullah Al-Khalidi, “and one thing that doesn’t please me is that it says that housemaids cannot work between ten o’clock at night and five o’clock in the morning. This and other things like the day off and so on will only serve to spoil them. After all, they have come here to work, haven’t they?”
Khalid Bawadhan disagrees. “They are human beings,” he says, “and they have the right to rest and play and have a day off like everyone else. And if they don’t have time for rest, how can you expect them to work?”
“And imagine if they come here to work and stay for four years?” he continues. “How on earth can you expect someone to work for four years with no days off, no holidays and no free-time or time to rest?”
“I have heard myself of the poor treatment they receive from some families who treat them inhumanely, and any law that works to protect both parties to the contract must be good,” he says.
“I fully support the new move and I hope they approve the law as soon as possible. We hear too many stories of the ill treatment housemaids particularly receive, and they are the first ones to get up in the morning and the last ones to sleep at night.”
Omar Al-Ghamdi has his doubts. “Okay, say they do approve the new law. Who is going to put it into practice?! Who is going to give their workers a day off, and keep to these working hours mentioned?”
While skepticism remains around the issue of implementing the law, some observers say that while it might not immediately change the situation it will serve as a first step on the long road to changing attitudes. “In the long run,” one says, “people will over time come to comprehend the importance of these things.” – Okaz/SG