A policy to set a minimum wage for Bangladeshi housemaids working in Oman is being considered, an official from the Bangladesh embassy in Oman said.
“Nothing has been finalized. However a study is on,” Zahed Ahmed, a senior official from the Bangladesh embassy, said.
According to a new report, the Bangladesh mission in Oman has formulated a policy on recruitment of housemaids and has conveyed the same to the expatriates welfare and overseas employment ministry in Bangladesh.
The news report adds that the policy insists the age of the domestic female workers should be 25 years and above, with the minimum wage expected to be set at OMR90 – equivalent to Bangladeshi taka 18,000. The sponsor’s salary should by OMR700.
The policy would also aim to discourage employing workers by people other than citizens of Oman and Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh’s Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), recruitment of female workers for Oman has increased in the last four years after other housemaid sourcing countries including Philippines and Indonesia stopped sending maids to Oman.
The BMET data reveals that there are 16,980 Bangladeshi maids in 2015 in Oman.