Overworked and Underpaid A Maid’s Silent Struggle

Every morning, before the sun rises, she is already awake, preparing herself for another long day of work. From Monday to Saturday, she travels to the Ethiopian household where she works as a domestic worker, cleaning a house that is always a mess.

Dirty dishes are piled high in the sink, sticky spills stain the countertops, and the floors are littered with food crumbs and discarded clothes. No matter how much she scrubs and sweeps, by the time she leaves in the evening, the house is just as chaotic as when she arrived.

She looks after their three children, chasing after them as they scatter toys across the house, spill drinks, and leave their food half-eaten on the floor. Their parents do not seem to care. They watch as she picks up after the children, expecting her to handle everything without complaint.

At the end of the month, she receives only R1,000—far below the legal minimum wage. She knows this is unfair, but speaking up could cost her the job. The last time she mentioned how difficult things were, they dismissed her concerns. “You should be grateful you have work,” they said.

But how can she be grateful when most of her money is gone before she even sees it? Some months, she barely has enough for food and transport. There are days when she skips meals just to make sure she can afford to get to work the next day.

She is not a live-in maid. Every evening, after hours of exhausting labor, she takes a taxi back to her small rented room, only to return early the next morning.

They demand everything from her but give so little in return.

She dreams of a better life, of fair wages, of being treated with dignity. But for now, she silently wipes down the kitchen counter, knowing that tomorrow, the mess will be there again, and she will have to start all over.