Omani families turn to Uganda for hiring cheaper housemaids

Muscat: Omani families have begun hiring housemaids from Uganda ever since Oman stopped issuing visas for domestic workers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon, a senior official from the Ethiopian Airlines in Muscat said.
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Speaking to the Times of Oman, Sami Muctar, country manager, Ethiopian Airlines, Oman, said the influx of Ugandan housemaids into Oman is one of the reasons they have increased their flight frequency to Muscat. “Every flight to Muscat has about 15 to 25 maids travelling from Uganda,” he said.
Visas were stopped to curb the spread of disease from African countries to Oman, and to restrict criminal activities in the Sultanate.
Effective July 1, Ethiopian Airlines has been operating daily flights between Addis Ababa and Muscat.
Earlier, they used to operate four flights a week. “These maids are boarding their flights from Uganda and coming to Muscat after changing their flights at Addis Ababa,” Muctar said.
The flight from Addis Ababa lands in Muscat 3.35am in the morning and departs at 4.25am.
With Philippines, Nepalese, Indian and Sri Lankan maids being considered ‘costlier,’ employment agencies dealing with the same are now promoting housemaids from Uganda.
Manpower agencies said demand is picking up for housemaids from Uganda. “Many are opting for Ugandan maids because of the ban imposed on other African countries,” they said.
The other major reason for this choice is that it costs less OMR500 to hire a Ugandan housemaid, which is very affordable for many families. “Their salaries are also less,” one of them said.
At the beginning of this year, Indonesia had stopped sending housemaids to Oman and other countries.
In February, 2015 Oman stopped issuing visas to domestic workers from Ethiopia, Kenya, Senegal, Guinea and Cameroon.
With the daily flight service, Muctar said passengers will have more choice and flexibility, and it will also facilitate trade, investment, and tourism ties between Oman and African countries.