Majority unhappy with maids’ recruitment procedures: Poll Sunday, 12 February 2012 03:54

DOHA: Majority of citizens are not happy with the procedures for recruitment of domestic workers to Qatar, especially housemaids, shows an online survey.

A high number of respondents- 81 per cent- to the weekly survey conducted by Al Sharq said they were not satisfied with the procedures. However, opinion largely varied when asked who is responsible for the recurring disputes between the housemaids and their sponsors.

Thirty nine per cent of total 475 people who responded to this question put the blame on the recruitment agencies, while 36 per cent held the housemaids responsible for the problems. However, 25 per cent of the surveyed believe that families employing the housemaids are responsible.

A large number of respondents – 88 per cent – proposed to make a good conduct certificate mandatory for housemaids while applying for visas.

Responding to the survey, several members of the Central Municipal Council and other citizens stressed the need for efforts to educate the families as well as the housemaids on how to deal with each other.

They also called to review the recruiting procedures to protect the interests of the housemaids as well their sponsors.

According to Mubarak Farash, a CMC member, the basic problem is that Qatari families are too much dependent on housemaids.

“There are families with four members employing two housemaids. Qatari households should reduce the dependence on housemaids. There should be a campaign to make people aware of this issue,” said Farash.

He said the nature of relations between the maids and their sponsors depend mainly on how they treat each other.

“If we put too much pressure on the maids, they would rebel and try to take revenge,” he added.

Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, a former CMC member called for stricter rules to prevent the manipulations by recruiting agencies.

“In many cases, the maids would not have the skills demanded by the employers. Sometimes, the recruiting agents bring housemaids from remote areas, who are totally unfamiliar with the culture here. Once they land in the country, they face serious problems in adjusting with the situation,” said Al Ibrahim.

There are some agents who advise the maids to behave well in the next three months, until they are confirmed in the job. The problems start after that.

He said introducing good conduct certificate would not help since there are all chances of forging such certificates. He called on the Ministry of Labour to set up a hotline for the sponors to lodge complaints about run away maids.

Ahmed Saleh, a citizen proposed to form volunteer groups to provide conselling to families on how to deal with the housemaids. They can also educate the maids on the Qatari culture and traditions by visiting the houses.

THE PENINSULA

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