Another story. One of my friend's parents had hired a full-time maid from the Phillipines. This labor was very cheap in Dubai. She lived in a dedicated maid's room facing an inner ventilation shaft in the center of the apartment and helped cook, clean, and take care of the family's kids.

We were neighbors and our parents knew each other. One time, my Mom was hosting a party and had hired this Filipino lady to help her with it. Before the event, my friend's parents warned my Mom not to spoil the lady with a large tip, food, clothing, or even too much intimate conversation. She thought my Mom had "spoiled" another woman she had hired in the past and thus damaged her work ethic.

This maid was an adult woman who left her home and her children to live in a dorm room in the middle of this family's apartment. Every one of her working days revolved around pleasing a stranger's family. She was their errand girl. She helped raise their children while her own grew up without her, all while making less than a girl scout would make selling cookies in the US. Yet, even this "westernized" family talked about her as if she were a working dog.

This was the best-case scenario for a maid in Dubai. I never witnessed the racism, violence, and abuse that I'm sure exists within these relationships. I'm sure you can find more information about that online.