Maid Of Honour

By Matongo Maumbi,

There has been growing outcry from all corners of the country on the latest increase on the minimum wage for domestic workers, aka MAIDS. How could the minister give them 100% plus when us we only got 14%? The maid does not deserve such a pay cos she does nothing in the house!

I am single and I do not need a maid per se. But listening to people go on selfishly on how the maid enjoys a lot of privileges at home just made realise how shallow thinking most of these are earning more money are.

I understand the cry of many and I appreciate it very much such that I pity them for having to be told that maids deserve better. The arguments that come are that the maid eats, baths and does everything from THE HOME, and even watches DSTV. 

That is very true and she very much deserves all that and even better. If it bothers you so much, it can help that you disconnect your DSTV service so that she no longer has to watch AND your children to having nothing to entertain them. Don't allow her to cook so she does not eat AND your children have nothing to eat as well. She should not bath so that no matter how much she bathes the children, they will still carry some dirt on them.

It's a bitter thing to accept by the stingy selfish so called employers but for the majority, and actually ALL, maids, this is what they deservedly need to earn and more. They have strong bonds with the children they are left to care for. 

I call them Maids Of Honour. They are honourable because the children get to learn a lot of things by socialising with the maids, the house gets to be cleaned by the maids, your husband's clothes get to be washed and ironed by the maids, there gets to be some one at home.

I sample two comments that have been posted on facebook (in protest):

looking for a washing machine before my maids approach me for increament. at least i can do the ironing on a daily basisWith this new minimum wage thing,maids will be employing maidsto look after their children

You can clearly tell how UNWELCOME this move by government is. And I hear of some who have already fired their maids who have finally demanded their fair share. 

Some have even taken great offence at this and wrote to maids:

Dear Domestic Worker,
With respect to the new minimum wage, your usage charge for DSTV, Food (breakfast, lunch and any snacks), water for your bath and electricity for charging your phone IN MY HOUSE will be at a cost of ZMK 250,000 per month. Please note that this will be recovered monthly from your new minimum wage.
Regards

And a Patrick Muzumbwe on Facebook wrote:

The Central Government should first create employment opportunities before increasing salary wages for general workers.This will cause more unemployment because employers will be employing less to combat the minimum wage increase.

I agree in totality with   My Frustrated Brotha:

We complain when Zambians are abused in mines, we complain when the shop workers are underpaid, we strike when our employers do not increase our pay, however, we forget the injustice that goes on in our very homes. Maids have no unions to speak on their behalf. No one hears their voices and nobody asks their opinion. Let us be honest, the reasons we have maids is so our lives can be a lot easier. Maids are usually expected to work six days a week. This is usually in an average household of six people. She is expected to wash for each individual, cook the meals, if there is a baby, babysit and do all the other chores the madam does not have time for. It is not an easy thing. Personally doing my own laundry is hell and if someone can do it on my behalf that is such a relief. Incredibly people still find a way to make their job insignificant and seem like a by the way thing that we can all do without if we choose.

Refusing to upgrade the pay of the Maids Of Honour only results from one who does not acknowledge the role that the maids play in the homes. If you so much do not want to pay the 522pin, at least you can pay 520pin and live with a peace of mind knowing your children have someone with them at home.

And as the Minister said, if you are aggrieved and can prove that you cannot afford to pay for such after declaring all your income, then please approach the ministry. Do not prey on the vulnerability of the many maids around the country. We are learned so that we help them out.

A domestic worker is a person who works within the employer's household. Domestic workers perform a variety of household services for an individual or a family, from providing care for children and elderly dependents to cleaning and household maintenance, known as housekeeping. Responsibilities may also include cooking, doing laundry and ironing, food shopping and other household errands. Some domestic workers live within the household where they work.

Government recently increased the minimum wage for domestic workers from K250,000 to K522,000 a move which has been received with mixed feelings from maid employers.

Mind you this is only a minimum, you may pay more or don't get one at all and note the difference. TB