When hiring a domestic worker, such as a maid, nanny or a housekeeper, it is crucial for employers to support their well-being and provide them with the necessary health protection. One vital aspect of this is ensuring that house maids have comprehensive medical insurance coverage.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of getting health insurance, its benefits, and guide employers where to get suitable insurance policies. Let’s explore how investing in domestic worker insurance can create a positive and secure working environment after you hire a housemaid.
Importance of Domestic Worker Insurance
Is Medical Insurance Required for housemaids? Employers are responsible for providing free medical treatment for the duration of the helper’s employment contract. This includes medical consultations, hospital expenses and emergency dental treatments when needed.
Since medical costs can be unpredictable and very expensive in some cases, it is advisable to obtain health insurance that also includes medical coverage and comprehensive hospital coverage to avoid paying exorbitant fees. Aside from this, here are the main reasons why you should get your housemaid medical insurance if you haven’t.
- Protect your family’s health and well-being
Helpers are part of your household thus will be in frequent contact with you, your children and other members of your family. Babies and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to disease, and with domestic helpers as their main caregivers, it is important to make sure they are as healthy as possible. Getting them medical insurance is an investment for your family’s health as it provides an added layer of protection and financial security in times of illness or accidents, covering unexpected medical expenses and ensuring timely access to needed healthcare services.
- The Well-being of Your Housemaids Matters
Salary, enough food provision, rest periods and job security are all important things to provide to your helper. Ensuring the well-being of your house maid is equally important. Providing them with medical insurance shows them your personal concern and commitment to their health and that you value them as essential members of your household.
- Adhere to the Kingdom’s Regulations
Ensuring access to proper healthcare for your helper is in line with the regulations and policy enforced in the Kingdom as part of domestic worker’s rights in Saudi Arabia. Aside from providing medical support, you must keep in mind that your housemaid is also entitled to 30 days paid sick leave per year based on a medical report indicating the helper’s need for a sickness leave. You must not require your helper to work during this time and allow them to rest and fully recuperate.
- Attract and Retain Good Workers
Offering comprehensive medical insurance as part of the employment package will be a competitive advantage for employers when hiring housemaids. Domestic workers are commonly breadwinners or sole providers of their families so without insurance, they may struggle to afford the cost of medical treatments, tests, or even medications. By providing medical insurance, you will alleviate the financial stress and ensure that they can receive proper medical attention without facing significant financial hardship.
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- Compliance with Ethical Standards:
Providing medical insurance demonstrates respect for the rights and dignity of your helper, recognizing them as important members of the household. Offering insurance is an ethical responsibility which we at HeperChoice advocates for and creates a sense of value and care, fostering a positive working environment.
What are the Benefits of Domestic Worker Insurance?
- Financial Security for You and Your Domestic Workers:
Unexpected medical expenses can be financially burdensome both for you and your domestic workers. By getting insurance coverage, you are mutually protected from the risk of high costs. This financial security contributes to your housemaid’s peace of mind and enables them to focus on their duties without the added stress of medical expenses.
- Prompt and Efficient Healthcare:
Insurance coverage normally offers a streamlined and prioritized healthcare policy. In case of accident or sickness, your domestic worker can seek medical attention promptly, without delays or concerns about affordability – which is a common problem for their sector. This promotes early detection and treatment, leading to better health outcomes and shorter recovery periods for your helpers to be back in shape to help manage your household again.
Where to Obtain Domestic Worker Insurance in Saudi Arabia
Medical insurance does not cover domestic workers when they travel outside the Kingdom, but some insurance companies provide a treatment package for emergency cases when the domestic worker accompanies the family when traveling abroad.
In order for the employer to avoid exorbitant costs in some unexpected cases, we provide you with a list of insurance companies that provide health insurance contract for domestic workers at reasonable prices.
Domestic workers insurance offers in Saudi Arabia
The insurance offered by medical insurance companies in Saudi Arabia are diverse and vary according to the type of work, the age and gender of the insured, and the geographical scope. Some of them are directed to Saudis only, some are for expats or foreign employers in general, and others are for companies and their employees, such as: MedGulf, Bupa Arabia, Tawuniya Insurance, Alliance, Arab Tawuniya Insurance Company And others, but there are two companies that produced a package for domestic workers:
- Bupa Arabia
Bupa, which has more than 70 years of experience at the global level and 20 years in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, provides a domestic worker insurance package, because of their belief that those who take care of our family members should be taken care of. Where the employer can apply for domestic labor insurance for all workers registered under his sponsorship, at an average of 500 riyals, which varies according to the type of package and the age of the worker, as he provides comprehensive health insurance of up to 50,0000 riyals, and covers internal and external clinics, dental treatments, admissions, and others. It is available in a network of hospitals and clinics throughout the Kingdom. Check out their website for the requirements - Al-Rajhi Takaful
Al-Rajhi Takaful Company is one of the properties of the Saudi Al-Rajhi Bank, which covers all insurance products for individuals, including domestic labor insurance for Al-Rajhi Bank customers. Check out their website for the requirements
Depending on your requirements, these insurance providers can provide you with the necessary coverage for your housemaid and give you peace of mind throughout the duration of your contract.
In cases where your helper pays for any medical consultations or treatments, you will need to fully reimburse them because this is your responsibility. Note also that your helper’s illness or injury is not a valid reason for you to terminate her employment contract unless your domestic helper is certified unfit for work which will require a medical report.
Improvements on Domestic Worker Insurance Coverage
On May 16, 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers approved health insurance rules for domestic workers. This reflects the government’s commitment to their well-being and protection. The rules apply to households with four or more domestic maids, emphasizing their significant contributions.
Additionally, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development will soon integrate insurance provisions into labor contracts for hiring domestic workers. This enhances the rights and benefits of both employers and workers.
These reforms provided are part of a comprehensive strategy for labor market reform, creating a fair and transparent environment. Employers will benefit from the seamless integration of these changes with Musaned, the official recruitment platform in Saudi Arabia. By embracing these positive reforms, employers can foster harmonious and long term relationships in their household.
Hiring Filipino Domestic Workers to Saudi Arabia
HelperChoice is an ethical online platform that directly connects domestic worker applicants and employers in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. Applicants register for free and are vetted by our team for verification on the website.
Employers can also register for free to browse through our pool of applicants and subscribe to our premium service in order to view their contact details for direct communication. Interviews are done within the website and once an employer and candidate agrees to enter into contract, employers are referred to ethical Maarofa recruitment offices in Saudi Arabia to process the worker’s visa and other hiring documents.
Know more about Maarofa service here: It’s an ethical and cost effective solution to hiring domestic workers from the Philippines.
Contact Us
If you have any enquiries, please feel free to contact our professional customer support team via email at contact@helperchoice.com or Whatsapp
You might also be interested in:
- The Ultimate Guide to Domestic Worker Hiring in Saudi Arabia
- Maarofa Service: A Cost effective solution to Hiring Domestic workers from the Philippines
- Electronic Visa Issuance for domestic workers in Saudi Arabia
- Domestic Worker Transfer of Sponsorship in Saudi Arabia
- Tips to Interview and Select a Domestic Worker in Saudi Arabia
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