adminknowledge of electrical gadgets and to some a driver’s licence is a must.
“I don’t have time to pick and drop my children at school. I prefer a maid who has a driver’s licence so that I can entrust her with my other car,” said a Harare woman Faith Huswa.
Some people said they now prefer domestic workers with basic five Ordinary levels.
“I prefer someone who will ring the alarm bell when the need arises. Someone who is able to mix an antibiotic with water as prescribed on the instruction box and someone who can be able to help children with their homework because most of the time I come from work tired,” said one local journalist.
There are schools teaching domestic workers how to cook. One such school in Zimbabwe is called Thembies Cooking School. The owner of the school, Thembi, said she thought of starting the academy after realising that domestic workers are the chief chefs in homes.
The working phrase of the school tells it all: “Cooking is an art loved by many but accomplished by a few. Welcome and let me show you how to be in the group of a few.”
Some households are even sending their maids to these schools to improve their cooking skills.
“We always have visitors at weekends and a maid should be able to prepare different dishes. We send all our maids to a cooking school,” said businesswoman Maud Gweru.
Some of the domestic workers who spoke to Saturday Lifestyle said they are constantly furthering their studies to remain relevant in the field.
“Like any profession, I enroll for short courses so that I remain relevant. Employers are looking for nice curriculum vitae these days,” said Rosemary Mazimairi.
After realising the importance of domestic worker, the Zimbabwean Government has set wages of domestic workers between US$85 and US$100 per month, resulting in the highest-paid domestic workers earning a salary that compares to some nurses and teaching professionals.
The new wages and working conditions were approved by Cabinet and are with effect from October 1 2012.
Workers not residing with their employers are now entitled to accommodation, transport, electricity and fuel or cooking allowances.
A cook or housekeeper is now entitled to US$90 per month or US$20,79 per week.
Those domestic workers looking after the disabled had their wages pegged at US$95 per month or US$21,94 per week.
Some domestic workers with Red Cross certificates or similar qualification who take care of the disabled and the aged are paid US$100 per month or US$23,10 per week.
Those who do not stay with their employers are now entitled to monthly allowances of US$50 accommodation, US$26 for transport, US$5 for lights, US$5 for fuel or cooking and US$5 for water.
leeroy