Nannies
From Alhannah
Because the cost of labor is so inexpensive in Doha, having a nanny is an affordable luxury. Most villas have a “maid’s room” that you will need to set up if you have a live in. There are three ways to find a nanny, going through an agency, looking at the ads in the paper or word of mouth.
There are a few agencies in Doha that will help with the process of bringing in a nanny. To pick your nanny you go through a catalog with pictures and bios of the available women. Most are from the Philippines. The agency will do all of the paperwork for you for a fee, but you are the nanny’s sponsor and are responsible for her. You have to pay for the visa and plane fare, but this is included in the fee you pay to the agency. If you decide that the nanny isn’t working out after she arrives, the agency will find you someone else as a part of their guarantee.
Some women are here with their families and will advertise in the local paper for positions. You can also place an ad in the paper for a nanny. Usually these nannies are looking for a part time position, but some will still want to be full time (live in). Some may come with a representative or an agent to help them negotiate. Depending on their situation, you may be asked to transfer their sponsorship to your visa.
Another way to find a nanny is by word of mouth. You can ask people at work or ask other families in your compound who have nannies if they know anyone that is available. The Filipinas especially have strong connections to their community in Doha and can quickly network to find a friend to work for you. You can find part time or full time nannies this way.
The cost of labor in Doha is ridiculously inexpensive, but keep in mind that most workers here are sending money home to their families. Live in nannies can ask for anything from 800QR (~$222) per month and up. We pay more than this because we think it’s fair, but it depends on what you are asking them to do and how comfortable you are with what you pay. You will pay less for live-in because you are covering their room and board. However, they will be available to work more hours because of their proximity. Part time nannies will ask for about 20QR per hour and may also ask for cab fare.
Be sure you are clear on what you expect your nanny to do. Most nannies will also clean for you, some will cook. You can expect them to work 6 days a week with Fridays off. Evenings are negotiable. Some will ask to moonlight and work for other families during their time off. This is up to you if you are their sponsor. If you are not, then they are working for you with the permission of the person who holds their visa. Some nannies are comfortable becoming part of the family; others prefer to stay in the background. This also depends on your comfort level.
Whether or not you prefer a live in or a part time nanny depends on how comfortable you are with having someone around all of the time and what your needs are. If you want the convenience of having someone to watch the kids when you zip out to the grocery store, you want a live in. If you think you only need a nanny 3 mornings a week, you might want someone part time or be willing to have the nanny live with you and moonlight on the mornings you don’t need her.
Sponsoring a nanny gives you control of their visa, which means the nanny can’t quit after a few weeks and leave you stranded. However, it also means that if your nanny gets into trouble you are responsible. Since you wouldn’t be hiring someone to watch your children if you didn’t trust them, the risk here is minimal. Also, laborers here know that if they get into trouble they will be deported, so it isn’t in their best interest to do something you would be unhappy with. If you go through an agency, they will handle all of the paperwork for you. If you want to find a nanny on your own you will need help with this.
--Christina England.
- External links
- www.dohanannies.com - An online marketplace for listing and finding nanny services.
To elaborate slightly on Christina's post: (1) In August 2006 the fee we paid working through an agency was 5000 QR. (2) Our observation is that nannies may be great with babies, but not necessarily with older, rambunctious kids. Their ability to "lay down the law" can be at the opposite end of the spectrum from the stereotypical British "Super Nanny" of the television shows. One explanation we've heard for this is that fear of being deported makes them conflict-avoiders. We've mentally adjusted to thinking that we have a house maid who can help out with kids rather than a nanny who can help out with house chores. (3) Maid's quarters are usually truly tiny, so you may face a choice between letting the nanny/house maid hang out in your living space even when there is no work to do and consigning them to a space so small that you'll wonder whether it is ethical to do so. (4) My understanding is that sponsors are responsible for paying for RT tickets for the nanny/house maid to return to their home country once each two years of employment.
