Maids: just because you sponsor them, it doesn't mean you own them.

domestic worker in Dubai, "Jane", has given a testimony of her job and life. It's republished below, slightly edited for punctuation:

"Hi.. I worked in JUMEIRA as a DH.. for 4 years and 5 months.. to a good arab family.. I dont have any comments for them because they are so good to me. They don't look at me as a maid but as a sister to them.. but some of the agencies are taking for granted about the salary.. they get some extra.. which is.. that extra is a big help for our family.

"The problem is... some of the employers.. same my employer are abusing me, like they don't even tell me, if I eat or no? Because they want me to stay all the time with the kids, or tell me to go and sleep just for 30 minutes. You know 5 minutes closing my eyes it's like 1 day of sleeping for me, or I can't even go to the bathroom leaving the children because they are just very busy of talking the phone from morning until evening. Instead, I would find way, how to go and make a release.

"Or I went to some places which is so class or social places without changing my clothes for the reason that she forget to tell me, while I'm so shy and felt embarassed with my kabayan. You know, just uttering those simple words without action is very hard for them while they're doing nothing. Working from 6:00am to 11:pm, sometimes 2:00am or 3:00am is optional when have parties or weddings. Tell me, who is not tired of working and can't have even a nap just for a minutes.

"They know that I am good and I do all the works and taking care of children is really important which is the big factor for them. And they don't even want to find another until I become old. I'm talking about my efforts, they took out from me because they think I'm always ok even they saw me with their eyes that I'm tired everytime.

"They don't mind me because they think they gave me good salaries which is 700Dhs. for 4 years and 5 months without day-off. And I spent with my own money buying those necessary things even they knew that it is their obligations to buy for us. What you expect from it? How much is left from my salary? As long as they can get benefits from me.. they don't mind me at all.. just because I'm so good to them while they are taking for granted.

"Mostly, the problem with arab people are being a LAZY. Machines will sometimes not function or shutdown reading all the datas, how much more the human?"

Cost of living in Dubai

COST OF LIVING IN DUBAI

Dubai is generally a very expensive city. Some of the goods provided in Dubai, such as vegetables, computers and cars, are cheaper in the UEA than elsewhere due to the tax free zones. Visits to the doctor (especially those which are state run) and gas are also inexpensive. Prices for groceries are about the same as in Canada, Australia and European members like the UK. To rent a house or an apartment can be more expensive than it would be in another country, so is a visit to the hairdresser.

Those who come to Dubai to live and work should try and get an employment package that includes a housing allowance. For a fully furnished studio you have to calculate 6.250 Dh per month (approximately 1.350 €), for an unfurnished two bedroom apartment 6.700 Dh per month (1.400 €), for an unfurnished three bedroom apartment 7.900 Dh per month (1.700 €) and for a villa in the region around Midriff 8.400 Dh per month (1.800 €). On top of this there is an amount of approximately 420 € per person needed for maintenance.

A three course meal with drinks is around 110 Dh or 24 € and a bottle of beer (which is only available in hotel bars and restaurants) costs 18 Dh or nearly 4 €.