Q. Even though a domestic worker who worked at my home until the
pandemic started no longer comes to work, do I still need to pay
her/him?
A. Yes, especially if you are still employed and gets a monthly salary, and/or if you
have comfortable saving. Even without a formal contract, you are expected to
follow common labor rules (such as?) that you are also protected by. They have
no access to social security, which means losing work for them means their
livelihoods and those who depend on their remittance back home will be in
danger in a matter of weeks.

Q. Why doesn’t domestic worker apply for social benefits offered by the
government?
A.Majority of domestic workers in the Netherlands are undocumented, meaning
that they exist outside of social security that protects people in general. In times
of the crisis like this, people who lost jobs, small business owners, freelancers
all have access to government funding as part of the stimulus plan, but
domestic workers who are part of the social fabric cannot apply for such help.

Q.What is the percentage of the agreed wage do I need to pay?
A. You need to talk to your employee. But we recommend 75%-100% of the
agreed fee.

Q.We don’t know when quarantine ends, and how long should I keep paying
a domestic worker?
A. As long as it’s possible especially if you are still employed and/or if you have
comfortable saving. As mentioned above, most domestic workers have no
access to social security, payment from employers exists as “social security.”

Q. Is it okay to ask my employee to keep coming to my home and continue
cleaning work during the quarantine?
A. Please talk to your employee, and make sure that she feels safe. If you ask
your employee to keep coming to your home to work, you are responsible for
offering a safe environment to work (you and your family members are following
social distance rules and not having guests coming in and out) including
providing masks and gloves, while assuring that she/he can travel to your home
safely (ideally without using public transportation).