Domestic Help in Delhi

For most people considering moving to Delhi, the idea of having domestic staff is very appealing. The very thought of no longer having to make beds, cook, dust, wash dishes and do laundry sounds like heaven and for those with children, if you add to all these things the possibility of affordable, on-tap childcare it becomes irresistible. You make a mental list of all the things you could do with your extra time and your new-found freedom. Finally, you imagine having the time to finally put all those photos in albums, a chance to sort out the music library once and for all and maybe even take up a new hobby, project or complete a degree on-line.

And there can be no doubt that in the beginning the feeling of liberation is extraordinary. Eight years ago I arrived in Delhi after a three year posting in Manhattan with three children under 7. I suddenly had more help than I really knew what to do with! After years of simply not being able to complete a project or contemplate dinner out (with hourly babysitting rates around $17) I now had complete freedom to come and go as I pleased. Better yet, I was able to do messy art projects with the kids and leave the cleaning up to someone else. I chose the menu and meals simply arrived on the table.

It was heaven but getting to the point where everything was working smoothly was a real task.

Advice from everyone you meet!

From the moment of your arrival in Delhi, you will be given advice on household staff from everyone you meet, both expat and local. You will hear many horror stories and meet the woman down the road who found the “perfect maid” who costs very little, reads and writes English fluently, cooks like a cordon bleu chef and has the disposition of Mary Poppins. Unemployed workers will come to your door with dog-eared letters of recommendation from long-departed (but still well-loved) families in their past. The estate agent, moving company, telephone engineer and more or less everyone you meet will all “know just the perfect girl”. It is a confusing start to a new country.

Top Tips for Finding and Managing Domestic Staff in Delhi

1. Define your needs

• Consider the size of your home and the size of your family.
• Consider if you want one helper who is an all-rounder or if you need a cook and an ayah and a cleaner
• Consider your lifestyle: Will yours or your partner’s job require entertaining? Do you foresee being out a lot during the day or in the evening? Will your company/embassy allow you to drive yourself on weekends or is this not allowed?
• Think about where you live and how the working members of your family will get to work. How far is the children’s school? Will you be allowed to drive by your organisation or will you need a driver 7 days a week? 

Finding staff

• Local Agencies – these tend to be illegally operated and will usually only be able to provide Hindi speaking staff. Most are highly exploitative and unscrupulous
• Domesteq – Delhi’s only responsible domestic staff agency specifically designed for the expat community
• International groups – they often have lists of available staff to share with members
• Schools – some international schools have community bulletin boards where departing families can posts details about their staff
• Door to Door – many unemployed workers will stop by your home when you are newly arrived. Please do not take on these people without thorough checks – see above 

3. Do full reference checks

• Do check all references on any potential workers just as you would in any major city anywhere in the world. Regard anyone simply coming to your door with the same due caution that you would in any major city. Going door to door is the hardest way to find a job and a usually a last ditch effort for those who have found the doors of the community closed against them for previous behaviour.
• Furthermore, many of the letters handed to you will not represent the entire story of their time with the family. Some will be forgeries so do not take these references at face value. Contact the former employer yourself, every single time for a full and candid reference. Domesteq’s candidates, for example, all have verified references - they go to the former employer independently to check that the contents of the letter reflect accurately what transpire.
• Domesteq also holds a blacklist which is updated regularly with information from the embassies and international groups. Please check all staff with us before you hire! This service is free to anyone and you do not have to be a client to check whether your potential domestic worker is on the black list.  

4. Market norms

Note: There is no government regulation for the domestic staff sector. The “norms” listed below reflect what is the usual scenario in the expat community in Delhi

• Salaries range from Rs7,000 – Rs18,000 per month, depending on past experience
• Most domestic staff prefer to live in quarters (attached to your apartment or home) and many will expect you to cover all living costs as well as pay them a full salary
• Leave - this is up to each individual family and we suggest it is negotiated at the outset of the relationship 

5. Manage your household staff

• Throw out the guilt – remember you are providing much needed employment at fair rates and excellent working conditions
• Be clear about duties and expectations – consider creating a contract complete with salary, benefits, time off, duties etc..Set objectives and expectations and monitor their ability to do as required.
• Create personnel files on all staff members including photo, full name, residential address and mobile number.
• Have all domestic staff registered by the police
• All domestic staff should have full medical check-ups prior to being confirmed for full time employment. Contact Domesteq for a list of recommended clinics
• Learn the market rates for items being purchased by staff – check accounts regularly
• Treat your staff as professionals – do not get over-friendly or get too involved in their family matters
• For staff living on the premises – set boundaries and be clear how you want them to conduct themselves. Consider drawing up a code of conduct
• Take nothing for granted – even if you are lucky enough to have English speaking staff with experience in other expat homes, never assume they know what you mean. Always show them exactly how you want things done. Domestic workers will always answer “yes” to any question that begins with “do you know how to...” It is in their nature; they are not being deliberately duplicitous but only want to please you. Despite confirmation from them that they “know how” do take time to train them and give them constructive feedback so they have a good chance of meeting your expectations.

The domestic staff industry is currently completed unregulated in India. The responsibility for your domestic staff falls to you. We are always happy to help our clients throughout their time in India. Do get in touch with us directly if you have any questions at all.