Reasonable salary for housemaid?

Somehow I ended up reading this old email trail today, years later than the entries were written...some good responses, but the person who suggested you should agree an amount of 500 per month and then not pay anything as the thing to do in the gulf should be ashamed of themselves - are you serious?  Hopefully your tongue is so far in your cheek that you have a very large ulcer... Personally I'm not into slavery and like the concept of ensuring at least basic human rights and a happy household.  We pay Q2000 for a non-driving housemaid/nanny and Q3000 for a housemaid who is also a good driver - this is still not much for the responsibility that goes with the job, and nice to feel their trip to the country, leaving their own kids behind so they can try and save something for their education, might actually be worth it. 

donosa....though you have critised everybody ...you have not yet suggested what would be a resonable salary!!!

Are all of this wages MONTHLY?!?! or weekly? If it's monthly... you people are sooooo cheap!

Just remember that she is a person... she takes care of your house and your belongings, makes the things you DON'T WANT TO DO or you don't have time to do... and that if you don't hesitate of paying thousands of Riyal in anything else, why should you hesitate on paying more than 1,000 this person... People sometimes just take advantage of other's people needs...

Modern age slavery, that's what this is...

We have a live in house maid..We are paying her 1300 as salary, if there is any function/party at our home we pay her extra amount..and she is very good and take care of everything..Important thing she doesnt need any guidance...

If you pay all her expenses, accomodation, food, visa, etc about 1200-1500 is reasonable.

Depends upon the no of chores you expect her to do:

1. Cooking

2. Children - No of children!

3. Washing the clothes - Manually or Semi Automatic or Fully automatic machine

4. Swabing the floor (Floor space to be swabed).

5. Any cleaning outside the house (garden etc).

6. Time to herself....ie if both the spouse are working the maid gets a lot of time (privacy)for herself.....but if the missus is at home the maid is constantly busy, etc

QR1,000 is the minimum you should be paying. Its just about 1QR every hour a day!!!

600 is slave wages. If you can affrod to have a maid and a nice house then you can show your thanks to God by paying your maid a living wage. I pay mine QR 2000 a month, and treat her good. Many friends pay little and make them work all the time. I would pay minimum QR1200 in Qatar, don't be greedy & stupid. Put yourself in her shoes, how much are you willing to accept?

SriLankan Embassy has a salary cap of minimum 900qr. An agreement to that effect has to be submitted to the Embassy also, but you can always negotiate with the maid. Ideal salary is 700 to 900Qr for Srilankan maid + food + accomodation + medical +airfare

I employ a sreelankan maid - live in. pay her QRs 1000/- She turned out very good - good with my children, with house keeping etc...so i buy her phone cards to call her family from time to time as a bonus...sri lankan embassy puts the min salary at 900/-

500/- (as some one put it) is slavary. They are also people trying to make a living like all the the expats here and if they are good, should be rewarded accordigly..

Offer here 500 permonth and then just dont pay her anything - its the done thing in the Gulf so its okay.

Thanks Moonbeam,

I'm aware of the legality issues. As far as I know, a person can work for you with the sponsor's written permission. This is something I have insisted they have. I'm still checking facts and will update you when I have the full picture.

One thing I will not do is to act outside the law.

IF you provided house (Room), food and clothing, QR 500 is maximum if I have to hire. You can always give her extra if you are happy with services.

Moonbeam, thank you for the update for the min salary for filipina maid.

Yes becareful if you hire a maid not your under sponsorship, if something happened or goes wrong you can be in trouble.

It is actually illegal now to have a 'live in" maid unless she is sponsored by you or your husband..........

Novita is actually incorrect (sorry Novi dear ;) ) the Philippine government 'did' put up the minimum, but its back down to 200$ (730 qr)

Basically it all depends on how you hire her. Direct hire without going through an agency means you can give her a little more.

Salaries range from a minimum of 600 qr all the way to 2500qr.

I think either extreme is ridiculous. 600 is slavery, and 2500 should only be given to a very qualified candidate.

Start lower rather than higher, for the first 3 months. Then raise the salary.

1100-1300 qr is good for a live in that has no ties to you sponsorship wise, and that you do not need to pay a ticket home for...........but beware, it's not allowed anymore.....

600 - 800qrs is good

Thanks Novita,

As always, you have been quick to answer - and with useful information too.

Bleu, if she knows she works for expat family she will not taking that amount.

I know the market rate for Indonesian maid is between QR 600 to QR 800, and the basic for filipina maid set by their embassy is QR 1400.

I probably been living abroad too long, I still say that QR 1000 to QR 1200 is fair salary for a full time housemaid.

Although I have an american friend that pays her maid QR 2500 and she goes everywhere the family goes.

Novita, you're spoiling her.

Market rate is 600-800

If you paid for her bills (provide her room, pay the water and electric and pay for her food), I said between 1000 to 1200 is reasonable.