Hiring a driver
So I've been told that hiring a nanny/maid with a driver's license would be next to impossible and we're better off finding a driver separately. That begs additional questions:
1. How easy is it?
2. What's the going rate?
3. How safety conscious are they?
My BIGGEST concern is that my baby will only be 5-months or so and therefore will need to be strapped in a car safety seat. We'll provide the car safety seat and therefore, it's imperative that he's properly strapped. The idea of our nanny holding him in her lap or the driver just putting the baby on the floor is unacceptable although this kind of practice is not unusual, unfortunately...
Any advice?
Hiring a driver is, in principle, quite easy. You will find many people, mainly Asians from the Subcontinent, who are willing to moonlight as a driver.
If you need a morning to evening driver, many Qatari families employ them, then you have no choice but to sponsor a driver and bring him.
However, I know many people who have drivers who begin their shift at 2, 3, or 4 pm and continue to 8, 9, sometimes midnight or 1 am. These are paid somewhere between 800 and 1200 Riyals a month.
How safety-conscious are they is a matter of observing and nagging. Remember they bring their traditional driving styles and adpat them to the local driving style so you have all kinds of drivers.
However, if you get a maid/nanny who has a valid driver's license, can pass the driving test here and you include her on the insurance as a co-driver I don't see any reason why she can't be your designated driver.
Cool idea!
For recruitment from the Philippines contact http://www.activemanpower.com and ask them if they can find someone who fits the bill.
You might start a trend!