MP Mariam Al Sayegh has submitted a proposal to amend the Labour Market Law and prevent conversion of domestic worker permits into other types of work permits.
Under this proposal, a domestic worker would either continue working in domestic service, transfer to another household, or leave the country. The worker’s permit could not be converted into any other permit outside the scope of domestic work.
In the explanatory memorandum attached to the draft law, Ms Al Sayegh stated that granting domestic workers a permit to work in commercial activities could result in financial losses for citizens who recruited them through manpower agencies.
Additionally, it may lead to the exploitation of these workers by assigning them to unsuitable or unauthorised tasks that do not align with their original contracts.
Ms Al Sayegh added that keeping domestic workers within the domestic labour sector ensures the provision of high-quality services tailored to the needs of families. It also helps maintain a clear classification of domestic labour, which contributes to organising the labour market and avoiding confusion in job classifications.
Converting domestic workers to commercial registers, she warned, could negatively impact the local economy by increasing unfair competition with local labour.
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