Embassy Set Salaries
How much you should pay your full time maid in Qatar is a frequently asked question on our Forum and is often a contentious issue.
It really depends on how much you can afford, what the size of her job role is- whether she will just be cleaning or whether there is child care involved- but also you should see this as a way to empower someone from a poorer country and make sure you are paying them a fair wage in order for them to better their life and the life of their family too.
Certain embassies are trying to protect their overseas workers and have set minimum wages- we do feel that these are still very low though:
Embassy Set Minimum Salaries:
Indonesia: QR 700
Sri Lankan: QR 800
Filipina: QR 1,400
We highly recommend a salary of around QR 2,000- 3,000 per month- this seems to be the average and you should include some allowances on top of this for food, toiletries, clothes, phone credit etc.
Many ladies who come here as maids are supporting an extended family back home- so the money you pay them will be going to put food in mouths, clothes on backs, school fees for children and pay essential rent. It can be very tough for the ladies who come here, as the family members will be asking for money from them, seeing them almost as the "better off" one and the main priovider in some cases. So some of the ladies can be under immense pressure.
You paying them an extra QR 500- 1000 a month above the average rate can make a massive difference to their lives and the welfare of the family they have left at home. After all that is just one less meal out a month for example and you would be helping a poorer family. You could always save up an extra amount each month to give your helper as a bonus when she eventually leaves you if you would rather she had a lump sum.
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