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Housemaids It is very typical for many Saudis (and expats in Saudi) to engage a housemaid (or in arabic, “sha-gah-lee”). To acquire a legal housemaid (ie, one with the right to work and legally sponsored) one must go through an agency which specializes in the acquisition and logistics of bringing a housemaid to Saudi Arabia. One would state their requirements to the agency such as from which country, what language is necessary as well as your personal requirements (family size, types of tasks and duties). Naturally a fee will be paid to the agency who in turn will search through their file holdings and hopefully identify a suitable housemaid. The agency will make the arrangements for the housemaid to legally enter the Kingdom. Usually the housemaid’s contract is for one year which can be renewed. On completion of the contract, the housemaid is typically entitled to a 30 day vacation back to her home country and then return to the Kingdom for another year of duty.The “average” cost to initially engage a housemaid can be about US$1500. The typical monthly salary of a housemaid is about US$200. The housemaid is also provided lodging and food. In fact, the housemaid will live with the family during her stay in the Kingdom. The housemaid will usually work 7 days a week. Specific schedules vary and depend on the employer. When engaging a housemaid it is very important to be clear from the beginning on duties and expectations.One should be forewarned to that once an agency provides you with a housemaid you are pretty much stuck with what you get. If there is a personality conflict or the housemaid does not meet your expectations and you wish to engage another housemaid, then you may be financially liable to have the housemaid returned to her home country before you can engage another one.Most housemaids in Saudi are from Indonesia, Phillipines, and various African countries. If one wants to engage a housemaid who speaks English, then she would likely be from the Phillipines. Many Indonesian housemaids come to Saudi knowing arabic well given that Indonesia also has a high percentage of muslims.Housemaids are expected to cook, clean, do laundry, iron, take care of children and a number of other tasks. One word of caution in regards to minding children is that it is not unusual for many housemaids to be more lenient with children than one would prefer.Naturally there are distinctions between how westerners utilize the services of housemaids and how easterners (Saudis and arabs) use the services of housemaids. It is very typical for Saudis to take their housemaids when they go shopping or visiting. Many would also take their housemaids along with them on vacation too.Having a housemaid has its pros and cons. Of course it is nice to have someone who is keeping ones home looking pristine but at the same time, it can also be easy for one to fall into the trap of laziness. I have observed where some Saudis would simply leave a dirty tissue or a candy wrapper on a table top rather than place it in the trash bin conveniently located because the housemaid will naturally pick up after them. Some children who grow up with housemaids may often have a close bond with that housemaid and over-rely upon them. And, these children do not necessarily have the same discipline of learning to pick up their toys or perform small chores because of the ever presence of the housemaid.Bottom line is it is ones personal choice to engage a housemaid as well as ones personal choice on how a housemaid will be utilized. However one should remember that a housemaid is an individual with feelings and emotions and not a mechanical robot programmed to perform every task at hand. 10:12 PM - 3 Comments – 0 Kudos – Add Comment – Edit - Remove |
Filed under: Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs
