www.CostaRicaTicas.com

ID,
Would you provide added information on "your friend's" set up, please.

Was she a live in and had her own quarters
If she was a daily did she work everyday
what does it cost to have a full service domestic in CR
age range of the applicants
frequency of "wife duties"
Was there an added charge or included in the base rate

This should probably be reported in the trip report section

She was a live in and had her own quarters. Many homes in CR have a maids room which is large enough for a bed and wardrobe and has a cold water bathroom.

I do not know the present pay scale. This was about 5 years ago and he paid her $400.00 per month and supplied meals which she prepared for them.

The majority of applicants were from 18 to 20 and lived outside San Jose. They visited their family once or twice a month and gave most of their earnings to the family.

Wife duties were not scheduled but like in most relationships in CR were when the man desired them. There was no added charge although he might buy her some clothing or a small gift occasionally.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Man by the time you pay all this extra crap and paperwork for a full time "live in maid" it would be so much easier just to have a separate cleaning lady to come in once/twice a week for a couple hours (not even close to a full time direct employee) to clean the house then as many chicas poco tiempo the same manner. Doing most laundry on your own is quick and easy with the machines. The rest easy for dry cleaning service or even laundry service to pick up, clean and drop back off.

it would be nice though to have a semi full time cook to prepare healthy meals and not have to go out all the time.

Well why would you be hungry if you are dining at the "Y" all the time.. All you need is Imperial....

_________________
"THE TRUTH IS' EVERYBODY IS GOING TO HURT YOU. YOU JUST GOTTA FIND THE ONE WORTH SUFFERING FOR"
Robert Nesta Marley

Thank you for the data. Great information. I have rented property in SJO and you are very correct when you say most places have a maids quarters usually off the kitchen or laundry room.

Your description of the services is very errotic and much appreciated.

Living in the Republica Dominicana just now, the going rate for monthly income is about six mil which at thirty six to one is a little less expensive than in the CR. As long as there are feet in the air and moans of passion it is all good.

Thank you for the update you sly fox.. Great trip report amigo

For those who were asking, here is a little info about domestic help in CR, in a nutshell from another website (Don't start flaming me for it's content!):

The Employer must pay the Domestic Employee in cash and the salary may never be the minimum established by law.

In addition to their salary the Domestic Employment is entitled to Room and Board (unless agreed otherwise). The Room and Board will be considered as a payment in kind (pago en especies) of an additional 50% of the salary paid for all legal effects under the labor code.

Note: The Minimum Wage in Costa Rica is established every six months by the Ministry of Labor and published in the National newspaper, La Gaceta. Nevertheless the actual market wage for Domestic Employees among the expat community in the capital city of San Jose ranges from $225 to $400 per month depending on the experience.

Working Hours. The Domestic Employee is obligated to work no more than twelve hours [12] per day which must include a one hour break.

Days Off. The employee is entitled to half a day off during any day of the week that the employer deems convenient. At least twice a month those days off must be on a Sunday.

Holidays. On legal holidays Domestic Employees are entitled to half a day off. If they work the holiday the Employer must compensate them by paying them time and half.

Vacations. The Domestic Employee has the right to 2 weeks of vacation per year. If the Domestic Employee is terminated before their first year of employment the vacation must be compensated proportianlly to the time worked.


There is much more to the labor law in CR (CAJA, dismissal, severence pay, so on and so forth) and I am not an attorney. I didn't even stay at a Holiday Inn Express (ever). So contact a reliable CR attorney for advice.

_________________
Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Pay her daily or weekly but not in advance! Okay so, not speaking Spanish, how would I word the want-ad?

_________________
The sexiest part of the human body? The brain.

It's good to see at-least there are some rules to help the women working in CR to protect their rights. The employment law does protect the people working in some different places. These women in search of some work have reached here and I think that they should be provided with an equal opportunity to flourish. Western thanks for education us on the laws and the rights related to the women working in CR.

_________________
compromise agreement

You could do like my friend does...claim to be on unemployment, get a girl friend who works, set up housing in San Jose, stay on the coast and come back to the Valley for fun and games.