Crime Situation Report

SECURITY:WHY YOU MUST EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE EMPLOYING DOMESTIC STAFF (1)

GBOLAHAN Samuel MORONFOLU

This article chronicles and x-rays major challenges and issues confronting and touching on individual lives, families and homes , especially as they relate to DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

It also shares insights and highlights some of the factors that must be carefully considered before employing domestic staff . When these are not factored in , calamities and harms could result .

DEFINITION

A domestic worker (staff) is a person of “workable age” who works within the scope of a residence. They perform a variety of household services for individuals or families as may be determined in their terms of contract or employment

DOMESTIC WORK refers to such services performed by domestic workers, which include; Maintenance and cleaning of the House; cooking and cleaning of utensils; Laundry & ironing as well as care for children & aged dependents and other household errands for remuneration. Domestic work provides an important livelihood source for illiterate men/women or those with very little education. It could also be undertaken by even the literate in western world as alternative source of income.

WHY DOMESTIC STAFF?

Some of the identified reasons many people employ the services of Domestic staff are:

1. Distance of parents to couples. 2. Loss of parents or couples who are in positions to lend assistance 3. By virtues of death by either of the couples 4.After birth/ child delivery 5. When couples are either Govt/Private employee working class or closes late or always return home late 6. Some couples hatred of crèche or Nannies to undertake their wards/children. 7. Care of aged/over aged mother or Father 8. Isolation when Son and Daughter got married and have to settle down in their new marriage/home. 9. When children travels abroad for schooling or in search for jobs/work. 10. Religious factors/believes. 11. Single parents 12. On hubby’s instructions to reduces stress 13. To attend to ill parents etc.

Before employing a domestic worker, ask yourself the following questions:

i. Do I really need a domestic staff?

ii. What sex or age bracket of domestic staff do I need?

iii. If you are married, have you discussed it with your spouse? Not minding whether he or she contributes to the up keep the family

iv. As a worker or business man/woman, will your earnings be sufficient to carter for your personal/family financial obligations as well as your domestic employee?

PROBLEMS/DIFFICULTIES FACED BY THE DOMESTIC WORKERS

The women domestic workers face the major problems such as – low wages, extra work, long working hours, lack of holidays, harassment, sexual exploitation, physical torture, ill treatment, lack of welfare facilities, absence of social security measures, lack of rest, development of fatigue, lack of freedom, low level of education.

Having satisfactorily answered the above questions in the affirmative, the procedures below should be taken into consideration;

i. REFERRAL: It is always advisable to get a referral. Contact friends, neighbors, colleagues and family relations or even church members you know had or have reliable maids without serious problems. Though, some prefer online referrals (social media) which in some cases may not be so reliable, as they could be possibility of employee submitting fake addresses or identities that could not be easily traced or verified.

ii. ENSURE A BACKGROUND CHECK: Do not be so anxious to get a new domestic staff, ensure you carry out a proper background check on would be employee, to ascertain certain facts about his/her home/address, family background previous job and criminal records. This you can do personally, through help of a reliable friend or security expert.

iii. MEDICAL TEST: The fact that a domestic staff indirectly becomes a member of the family as long as his/her services last in any home, makes it imperative for employers of these services to carryout comprehensive medical test in other to ascertain the health status of their domestic employee, or risk being infected on course of employee interaction with members of the family. Some of such sicknesses checkout for includes Tuberculosis, HIV, Hepatitis and or unwanted pregnancy.

iv. TRUST BUT NOT SO QUICK : Allow your domestic employees sufficient time to earn your trust before granting them custody of your children unaccompanied or even access to your valuables or other restricted areas, such as your personal room and avoid display or discussion of money and financial matter. To do otherwise might be of great security consequence.

v. FAIR TREATMENT: Do not compromise treating your domestic staff fairly. They are also humans with feelings, pains and challenges. Listen to their complaints, “share their pains and you gain their brains”. Do not withhold their salaries or deny them food, they may vent it on your children or your valuables. It is better to pay and lay them off when no longer comfortable with their services.

*Moronfolu is a seasoned security consultant with many years of security and policing experience. FELLOW, Fourth Estate Professional Society (FFPS), he has also partaken in peace keeping operations within and outside the country and has flair for general security education.

….Cont’d next week