General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has introduced the Domestic Help Department (DHD) to assist distressed domestic helpers in Dubai.
GDRFA Director Gen., Major-General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said the DHD also maintain ties between helpers, their sponsors and facilitating recruitment agencies on top of protecting their rights.
According to data available, there were 988 cases involving employers and their domestic helpers — 245 absconding helpers, 54 cases of employers withholding passports and 338 applications submitted for visa cancellation, Khaleej Times reported.
According to Capt. Hussein Darwish Abbas, Director of the department said it is the first of its kind in the UAE. The public can register complaints with the department by calling 8005111 Amer or 04-7074878 or 04-7074889.
The report also said the GDRFA will be providing temporary residence facilities for female domestic helpers, and a shelter for those housemaids in distress.
The directorate will also build a training centre to familiarise female domestic helps on their rights and duties, a move seen as a step to address and stamp out any problem which might appear on the future.
