A video recently went viral showing Yulia Aslamova, a Russian expatriate residing in Bengaluru, revealing that she pays ₹45,000 per month to her house help. What sparked interest wasn’t just the high figure — but the reasoning and principles she shared behind this decision.
In her Instagram post, Yulia explained that her approach to paying domestic help is not impulsive or arbitrary — it’s rooted in respect, long-term relationship building, and professional standards.
🧠 The Logic Behind ₹45,000: Beyond the Number
In her post, Yulia outlined key principles she follows:
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Treating domestic work professionally
Unlike many households where a domestic help is seen as casual labour, she argues that their role deserves the same respect as any job. She said, “Think of other people’s jobs the same way you think of your own, regardless of designation.” -
Careful hiring & vetting
For her nanny role, she reportedly conducted over 20 interviews, made a detailed checklist of required qualities, and emphasised safety and mindset. -
Growth through performance incentives (KPIs & hikes)
Yulia introduced Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) so the house help can increase pay through meeting goals. After the first year, she gave a 10% hike, then later transformed the role into a full-time position with a 1.7× hike. -
Long-term loyalty & retention
She claimed no one ever resigned on her, until she herself decided to let them go. She sees this as a sign of mutual commitment. -
Pragmatism meets ethics
Yulia believes inflated wages don’t necessarily hurt if they’re tied to performance and accountability. Also, she notes that the ₹45,000 figure covers multiple domestic staff, not just one person.
📊 Context: Bengaluru Cost of Living & Her Expenses
To frame this, Yulia also broke down her monthly expenses:
| Expense Category Amount | t (₹) |
|---|---|
| Rent | 1,25,000 |
| Food & Household | 75,000 |
| House Help | 45,000 |
| School Fees | 30,000 |
| Health & Fitness | 30,000 |
| Petrol | 5,000 |
She added that the ₹45,000 figure includes multiple staff members, not just one person.
Yulia further asserted that the bare minimum for a family of three to live decently in Bengaluru today is ₹2.5 lakh per month.
She also compared Bengaluru’s cost of living to European cities like Spain, Portugal, Greece, and even her hometown, Saint Petersburg, saying costs are now in similar ranges.
🔥 Reaction & Debate on Social Media
Yulia’s post ignited a heated discussion online:
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Critics argue that ₹45,000 is too high for domestic help and could distort local wage standards. Some said, “You are overpaying — how will others afford that?”
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Supporters defended the pay decision, praising her respect for labour and arguing that dignity should accompany remuneration.
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Some commented conditionally: “If it’s sustainable (say < 10% of monthly income), I support it.”
One user quipped: “Rs 45,000 for a maid? You must be living in Taj!”
💡 What It Suggests About Changing Mindsets
Yulia’s approach reveals several evolving ideas:
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Domestic work as skilled labour: The traditional divide between “househelp” and “professional employee” may be narrowing.
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Accountability & growth mindset: Using KPIs suggests evaluating domestic work not just in hours, but in outcomes.
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Retention through empowerment: Rather than switching helpers frequently, investing in their growth can lead to loyalty.
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Wage transparency & fairness: Her public post prompts more open discussion about fair pay — especially in a sector often undervalued.
📝 Final Thoughts
Yulia Aslamova’s viral post has done more than shock — it challenges deep-seated norms around domestic work, wages, and employer-employee dignity in Indian households. Whether one agrees with ₹45,000 as a figure or not, the principles of respect, consistency, growth, and fairness she cites merit reflection.
What do you think? Is her ₹45,000 pay a benchmark-setting move, or an outlier inflated by her privilege? Leave a comment below.
