Indian maids in Gulf back in focus as Kerala woman jumps off second floor of employer’s home in Oman

News Oman

Indian maids in Gulf back in focus as Kerala woman jumps off second floor of employer’s home in Oman

Bijumon said, “They [the Indian embassy] got air tickets for our two children and I after intervention from social workers in Oman.” However, he complained that the mission had made no effort to get his wife compensation. “I hope the minister and the embassy will help us get a decent compensation from the employer,” he said.

Jabir said the family was in desperate need of financial help as they were now paying for Sheeja’s treatment with funds raised by social workers in Oman.

Sheeja Das and Bijumon Shivadasan hoped to build their dream home with their earnings.

Call for tougher rules on hiring
Sheeja’s ordeal has also raised questions about the Indian rules governing the employment of housemaids in foreign countries, including in the Gulf.

Bijumon said Sheeja received her visa three days after submitting her documents to her employer. “Our employer was a police officer, hence she got her visa quickly,” he said.

In 2011, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs laid down certain conditions for foreign employers hiring maids from India. According to the guidelines, the employer would have to earn over $2,600 per month and provide a bank guarantee of $2,850 to the Indian embassy in their country. This would act as a security deposit and be used for any unpaid dues, salary and legal obligations. The ministry fixed the minimum monthly salary at $280 (approximately Rs 18,800 at the current rate). It also said the sponsor would have to provide free food, accommodation, a mobile phone with a prepaid SIM card and air fare to visit India every year.

In 2015, the government introduced the eMigrate website and said all emigration clearances and visas for maids would have to be channeled through this site.

However, the government last year did away with the bank guarantee requirement for employers from 18 countries, including the Gulf nations. The move, apparently aimed at boosting dropping levels of offshore employment, was criticised for allegedly making Indian workers abroad more vulnerable.

“It is high time the government strictly monitored the hiring of housemaids,” said Jabir. “Otherwise, we will continue to hear the wails of Indian housemaids from the Gulf.”