Alemintu Girma Hailu, 19-year-old Ethiopian woman, who came to work as a Domestic worker for a family in UAE, fell ill after a few days of her arrival due to heat stroke.

She spent two months in the hospital in coma before she died on October 9. Her body is still at the morgue waiting to be sent home.
Alemintu is the eldest daughter of a poor parents who sent their daughter to work here in order to support them in their hard life.

While the mother and the father of Alemintu are waiting to receive their daughter’s body, the sponsor and the labor agency are haggling over the onus of the cost of repatriation and the cancellation of the visa.

An official from Ras-Al-Khaimah Naturalization and Residency Department (RNRD) said that the ministry of interior’s law clearly states that in the event of the death of the domestic worker it is the employer’s responsibility to repatriate the body of the deceased to the home country and repatriate his or her personal effects as soon as possible, in coordination with the concerned authorities in the worker’s home country.

“The cost of visa cancellation and obtaining departure permission is not more than Dh200 ($55) and must be shared by both,” the official said.

The official who refused to be identified said that he is aware of Alemintu’s case but neither the sponsor nor the agency were cooperating in the case.

“The woman’s body has been at the morgue since October 9, and we hope to sort it out before the end of the year,” he said. Alemintu worked only two weeks for the Arab family in Ras Al Khaimah when she was admitted to hospital for heat stroke, septicemia and pneumonia.

It may cost Dh4,500 ($1235). For repatriation the deceased will have to be embalmed at Al Maktoum Hospital in Dubai and will cost about Dh1,200. ($329).

A temporary shroud will be provided by the hospital and a simple zinc-lined coffin can be obtained for Dh1,000 ($273)(optional).

The casket will cost Dh1,000. Airlines may charge about Dh2,000. Hence the repatriation cost (without the temporary shroud) is about Dh4,500.($1235.

Where is humanity and compassion? Most of the housemaids in this part of the world are treated like slaves… at least they could have been kind to her after death! Her body is still at the morgue waiting to be sent home but with the help of good people, hopefully the body could be repatriated this week.