*** ----> More measures needed to ensure maid's rights | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

More measures needed to ensure maid's rights

A Wage Protection System designed to protect private sector workers, mainly low income and domestic workers may not fully solve the issues faced by domestic workers although it may be a boon for other categories of employees, according to Migrant Workers Protections Society. The new system which will require employers to transfer salaries of staff to bank accounts may not solve the issues faced by housemaids and low wage domestic workers. This is according to Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS) Chairperson Marietta Dias. She said that the housemaid’s unfamiliarity with banks, and electronic transfers and their lack of access make it difficult for them. She said that a more useful solution would be to fix a minimum salary for housemaids and having a strong support for those who complain of non-payment of salaries. 

The Wage Protection System was launched in May and would finish implementation in a years’ time. The exact mechanism sponsors of housemaids would be asked to use to pay the domestic remains to be seen. Apart from bank transfers, prepaid cards and e-wallets may also be introduced as possible options for transfer of salaries.