housekeepers in bogota

Bill Turley (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:05:

Cerealkiller says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:13:

Most people pay their live-in maids a little less than minimum salary because they are providing room and board. They have to be in Seguro Social's pension scheme and an EPS, have at least one day per week free, although it is customary to give saturday's and sunday's off. In addition, I think they're entitled to 26 days of paid holidays, and you can come to an agreement when it comes to the extra month's pay. Most save it for December, which tends to coincide with the 26 days off.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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romy says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:27:

but it's Colombia so labor laws don't really matter anyways...

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Cerealkiller says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:28:

Unless your maid knows her rights, then you're effed.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Simon says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:30:

Qué linda forma de expresarse de su país! Y luego nos quejamos cuando los extranjeros hablan mal de él, pero qué se puede esperar si los Colombianos son los primeros en vilipendiarlo.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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romy says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:41:

How do you feel about the deaths of union leaders Simon? You are hopeless...

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Simon says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:43:

I feel angry about it, as any decent Colombian would.

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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romy says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:45:

so...who do you blame? what actions should be taken? by who?

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Simon says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:49:

I blame whoever is responsible, be they paramilitaries or guerillas, and if it were up to me, those fockers would get the death penalty!

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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romy says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:52:

game over... you lose. I have no more time for you.

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Simon says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:55:

"Game over"? You think this topic is a "game"? And then you expect to come across as something more than a pseudo-intellectual?

"DON'T FOK WITH COLOMBIA!!"-----Simon

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romy says on Jun 2, 2008, 14:59:

Sorry Hans.

I think the answer to your question is well done by rubito and CK... my point was that there are many people that don't follow legislation.

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Mr. Hollywood says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:04:

Hans, the most important thing since you're a foreigner is to find someone you trust and can be comfortable with. References from someone you know and trust are the single best thing you can go on.

Treat your help well and communicate clearly with them about your expectations. Poor communication is the death knell of these kind of relationships, especially when they involve foreigners from countries not used to having domestic help around all the time.

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Cerealkiller says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:16:

Hans my parents have a live in person and a woman who comes 3 times a week (although I don't think she comes that often anymore). Food and transport is paid for and they clean, cook, iron, answer phones, and sometimes do the grocery shopping and pay bills. The live out person comes at 9 and leaves at around four, the live-in person wakes up at around 5 am, sends brother to school gets breakfast ready at around nine, starts preparing lunch, serves lunch, starts preparing dinner at around 3 p.m, and leaves dinner for my mother to serve later on, because my mom doesn't want the maid working until late in the afternoon. Also, they eat the same thing everyone else at home eats and can have seconds if they wish. Live in person is affiliated to the same type of health insurance we get and she gets weekends off starting friday afternoon until Monday morning and she is allowed to go back to her town on paid holidays whenever my parents are traveling for extended periods of time. It is not common, but that's how it works at home.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:27:

I want to live in your home. That sounds like the good life! =D

Diana

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Cerealkiller says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:33:

Oh god no, there are not enough perks to make up for the kind of boss my mother is. She makes Donald Trump likeable. The woman is my mother and I love her to bits but as a boss she is a complete and utter nazi.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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adrimm (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:36:

Gator says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:44:

1. Pay strict attention to the labor laws-Colombia does enforce.
2. You will also be obligated to:
a. Pay minimum wage, 458.000 a month adjusted every January
b. Pension 15% of each employee's salary, 75% of which is paid by the employer
c. Health 12% of each employee's salary, 8% of which is paid by the employer
d. Work Clothes One pair of shoes and one work attire, three times a year
e. Severance Pay 30 days of salary per year of service
f. Vacation

Round figure - about 120.000 over minimum wage so say roughly $578.000 for a 48 hour week.
We pay more than the minimum and soft-hearted Mrs. Gator is always buying clothing and presents for her kids and we help out for extraordinary emergencies.

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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Mononoke28 says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:32:

Cerealkiller says on Jun 2, 2008, 15:33: flag
Oh god no, there are not enough perks to make up for the kind of boss my mother is. She makes Donald Trump likeable. The woman is my mother and I love her to bits but as a boss she is a complete and utter nazi.

Well no, I wouldn't want to work for the woman but I'd love to have my place clean, my kids fed and food on the table every day. Now that's the life!

Diana

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kat1 (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 3, 2008, 08:42:

I agree mononoke that's life :)))

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aztec says on Jun 3, 2008, 11:00:

Labor Regime 2007.PDF

http://www.proexport.com.co/vbecontent/Fileprocess.asp?ID=6731&Link=li...

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