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Original poster

Want to move to UAE but something bothering me...

124 replies

FortyCoats · 07/08/2015 13:25

Hi,

We're seriously considering a move to Dubai or Abu Dhabi next year. Job prospects in our field are great, they're beautiful cities, lots of expat community events/clubs etc, lovely weather, great nightlife, outdoor activities. Basically loads of pros.

We've read up on the laws and are happy we can live with them, they're nowhere near as strict as some people have made out when trying to scare us off the idea. I have one problem though...

We have friends over there and during a Skype discussion the other evening he mentioned a few things that made me sad and angry. Apparently if I wear standing in a queue in a shop with several different race people before me, I would be called to the front of the line because I'm white. Also, where he lives, the houses all have separate accommodation for maids comprising of a small room and bathroom which have no access to the house. That part doesn't bother me as I'd never have it in me to employ a maid but the shop things bothers me immensely.

Anyone living there know if this is true and if so would I be frowned upon for politely declining the offer to jump the queue?

I really can't go if this is the case so DH would have to go alone.

OP posts:
ML29 · 10/08/2015 20:01

Weebirdie, the gardeners are employed and paid by landscaping companies,

If you live in a gated community, there are only specific landscaping companies who are allowed to work in that gated community. The homeowner pays a monthly contract with the landscaping company, not the gardener.

I don't know anyone who hires their own personal gardener.

The tip, food and bonus is to help make their life a little bit easier, it is not obligatory on the part of the homeowner who already pays more per month for the contract, than the gardener earns.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:02

My mum was In Qatar and her 'maid' was just like a cleaner would be here. Mum's friend 'bought' the 'maid's' sponsorship from a Qatari family to get her away from the slavery-type arrangement, and she could also work for other people, like my mum.

Mhmm.

So what your mums friend, your mum, and all the other ladies did, was sponsor/employ a maid illegally and put her at risk of a jail sentence, deportation, and blacklisting if she had been caught working in the home of anyone except her sponsor. And you call that helping?

The sponsor would also have been liable for a fine.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:03

ML - I understand that but surely by going along with the practice you encourage the rock bottom wages?

ML29 · 10/08/2015 20:10

"surely by going along with the practice you encourage the rock bottom wages?"

Weebirdie, well that a whole 'nother story.

ironically, the rock bottom wages are usually 'set' by the government of the countries who depend on the stipends from overseas workers.

I can't change the practice, but I can do my bit, on a small and personal level, as much as I can to alleviate what we perceive as the unfairness and hardships of it.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:16

So what your mums friend, your mum, and all the other ladies did, was sponsor/employ a maid illegally and put her at risk of a jail sentence, deportation, and blacklisting if she had been caught working in the home of anyone except her sponsor. And you call that helping?

Dunno. It was about 20 years ago and done properly, I think. I think the sponsorship was transferred.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:17

But thanks for that, Weebirdie.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:23

www.onlineqatar.com/info/maid-visa-qatar.aspx
"
When taking over the maid's sponsorship, you will have to submit an application with the Department of Immigration. For this, you may need to fill out an application form and provide all supporting documents such as the letter of NOC (No Objection Certificate) from your sponsor/employer, your ID card and passport copies, along with maid’s ID and passport, and letter of NOC from the maid's releasing sponsor."

Doesn't sound illegal to me. Friend's husband worked for one of the big companies, who sorted it. Mum was there 15 years, and many of the 'workers' did extras like babysitting, cooking etc. But obviously you know best.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:37

Yes Primal, I do in this case.

When you sponsor a maid you sponsor her to work for you, not others, and though people do share maids its illegal and its usually the maids who pay the high price for it.

So even though your mum sponsored the maid she broke the law and put the maid in danger by letting her go out and work for her friends.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:38

ML - I hear you. :) Honestly :)

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:42

My mum didn't sponsor her. Her friend did, through Mobil.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:43

You assumed she was sponsored illegally. Not so.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:48

And believe me, Mum's friend certainly did help the lady. Nicer place to live, flights home, financial help.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:50

I didnt assume she was sponsored illegally. It was obvious she wasn't, that she couldn't have been if the sponsorship had been transferred from the Qatari family. She would have had to be transferred to someone unless she had run away and was an absconder.

My mum was In Qatar and her 'maid' was just like a cleaner would be here. Mum's friend 'bought' the 'maid's' sponsorship from a Qatari family to get her away from the slavery-type arrangement, and she could also work for other people, like my mum.

I think its you who isn't understanding the process and whether it was your mum or her friend who sponsored the lady they were all responsible for the very precarious situation she was in.

Oh and for what its worth there is a school of though that considers buying the sponsorship of someone to get them away from a supposed bad situation is as much slavery as the situation some people are in.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:50

But it was 20 years ago (when the only 'British' shops were in 'the Centre'), and there was a wave of deportations if I remember.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:52

Oh and for what its worth there is a school of though that considers buying the sponsorship of someone to get them away from a supposed bad situation is as much slavery as the situation some people are in.

Bollocks to that.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:52

Ok so she helped the lady on one hand and put her at risk of a jail sentence, deportation and black listing on the other.

As well as also putting others in the scenario at risk also.

I think if you're going to make statements about rescuing people from slavery you have to make sure no one can come back at you and say - well the fact is.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:54

Bollocks to that.

You're obviously not liking what you're hearing. And who can blame you? It really can be a filthy situation all round.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:54

I think its you who isn't understanding the process

Quite likely, as I didn't live there. But the lady was certainly helped and in a better position. The Qatari family were also letting her work elsewhere.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:56

No I just disagree Weebirdie. For this particular lady.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:57

Quite likely, as I didn't live there. But the lady was certainly helped and in a better position. The Qatari family were also letting her work elsewhere.

Well thats ok then. Hmm

ML29 · 10/08/2015 20:57

I don't know about Qatar, but I do know that in Dubai, in the case of domestic workers, the employee can only work exclusively for the sponsor (i.e. employer).

So if I have a housemaid hired under my sponsorship, but I only need her a few hours per day, it would be illegal to allow her to work for the neighbours, walk their dogs, babysit their kids .....

It is the same for teachers, they are not allowed to tutor on the side, etc.

It does happen, very frequently, but it is illegal and the fines are huge for both the sponsor and the 'neighbour' who hired her, and the housemaid would be deported.

I imagine Qatar is as strict if not even stricter.

The whole sponsorship situation is something that the UAE government are looking to change, but I am sure it will take a while and there will be quite a bit of opposition as it is quite expensive outlay annually to sponsor a housemaid or a driver.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 20:59

As I said, it was 20 years ago.

Weebirdie · 10/08/2015 20:59

Primal , I don't want to fall out with anyone about this.

It really can be the most ugly of situations and after almost 40 years of it I think Ive heard almost all there is to hear.

Have a nice night. Smile

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 21:00

Oh FFS Weebirdie. I bow down to your higher knowledge.

PrimalLass · 10/08/2015 21:01

Oops, cross posted.