Recruiters seek cheaper domestic workers due to ban, restrictions by some countries

With many governments banning their domestic workers from taking up jobs in Oman, and some other countries imposing financial restrictions, the labour market has opened up for some countries like Uganda.

Uganda too had imposed a ban in January last year, but Oman still issues visas to Ugandan maids because no official request has been made by the Government of Uganda. Domestic workers from countries like the Philippines, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka are considered expensive and hence many in Oman are looking for affordable options from other countries.

A ban on Indonesian housemaids working in Oman has been in place since early 2015 after reports of exploitation. Some other countries that have banned workers to Oman include Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Papua New Guinea and Cameroon.

Earlier this year, the Government of Uganda had asked job hunters, particularly domestic workers, not to take up work in Oman, saying they cannot guarantee that they will be safe while on duty in Oman. An Indonesian embassy official told that their government has no plans to revoke the ban.

“There is no plan to remove the ban which has been there since 2015. Indonesian government issued the ban after so many considerations with the main reason being the shortage of maids in Indonesia and lack of both Oman and Indonesian government agreement to safeguard them.” Recently, ROP too had issued a statement saying that it is not issuing housemaid visas for Indonesians. “Maids from Indonesia have been banned from working in Oman as per request from competent authorities in Indonesia. Oman will welcome Indonesian workers to work in the sultanate at any time their government lifts the ban,” ROP said.

The ban is part of Indonesia’s decision to stop sending domestic workers to 21 countries in the world, including some GCC nations. Social media users have been seeking a revoke on the ban. “The cost to bring in housemaids has become high due to restrictions imposed by many countries. For example, to bring in a housemaid from India or Sri Lanka, you need at least RO1,200. The cost would come down if these restrictions are lifted,” said Abdullah al Khaldi, an Omani citizen who had come to the manpower office in search of a housemaid.

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