The ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment has finalised a guideline on recruitment of female housemaids for Oman by setting the age limit of 25-45 years.
The government formulated the guideline following the request of Bangladesh embassy in Mascat to protect the housemaids who were often the victims of various deceptions and tortures in the gulf state.
When asked about minimum wage, EWOE ministry joint secretary for employment Abdur Rouf told New Age on Sunday that Bangladesh mission in Oman was authorised to bargain with the employers to set the wages for Bangladeshi housemaids.
No housemaid will be sent to Oman below the fixed minimum wage, he said.
The ministry officials also said that the migration cost of the Oman-bound female housemaids would be free as the employers would bear the related costs.
According to the guideline that has been effective from October 16, the minimum wage has been fixed at Tk 18,000 which is equivalent to US$ 230 and 90 Omani Riyals.
The guideline also stipulated that the minimum monthly salary or income of the sponsor has to be of 1000 Oman Riyals to recruit domestic female workers.
The Oman-bound female workers must take part in 30-day compulsory training at technical training center and also they will receive certificates before their departure.
Officials of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training would scrutinize the ages and capability of the outbound female workers.
The legal guardians of the housemaids and concerned recruiting agencies have to sign affidavits on Tk 300 non-judicial stamps pledging to abide by the guideline.
BMET data showed that Oman had increased recruiting housemaids in last few years as the other housemaid sourcing countries including Philippines and Indonesia stopped sending maids to Oman.
A total of 52,626 female workers went to Oman since 1991. Of them, 4,102 female workers went in 2012 while 6,068 female workers went in 2013, 11,584 in 2014 and 16,980 in 2015, showed BMET data.
When asked, Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association general secretary Sheikh Rumana told New Age on Sunday that they were not aware of the government’s decision.
She said that the minimum wage of the housemaids should be fixed at more than Tk 20,000 as they had to work overtime.
Besides, Sheikh Ruman said that the government must take measures to ensure that Bangladesh mission in Oman would protect the housemaids from tortures and abuses by the employers.