Colombia Expat Forum

fecherklyn
Joined 2015
Posts: 1352

5 years ago

How to treat a maid in Colombia

5 years ago

Ok, don’t be misled, this is not a thesis on the subject; simply a story I thought you might find interesting.

Martha dropped by for a quick visit as she so often does – but this time she broke down in tears. Martha is a maid where we live and her master had just died after her 35 years of service. She was deeply affected by his decease, as was his dog that followed Martha everywhere. Oh dear I thought, what is to become of her, she is already at the age of retirement and she never married, nor had any children. I think I was right to fear the worst as my 17 years in Colombia has shown me how maids can be taken advantage of. Ten minutes later my fears were set aside as she told us what was to become of her.

Martha’s 35 years of full-time service had seen her assist in raising the master’s three children and then carry the household burden after his wife had died. Whilst so many maids do the same with little or no protection and security, Martha had been fortunate her master had fulfilled all the legal obligations regarding health and pension insurances. This was already a step up on what most maids obtain, but Martha was about to astounded by the manner in which she had been considered by “her family”.

The three children, now adults with their own children and families, had got together to ensure Martha would be properly provided for. The master’s house has been put up for sale, but they have already put aside enough money to immediately acquire a three bedroom apartment in La Ceja, a town just outside Medellin. Now, for the first time in her life, she owns her own property. Not only this, she has first call on any of the furniture in her master’s home and his children accompanied her on a shopping trip to “personalise” her new home.

Now you know why I thought this story interesting – you do not hear actions like this too often. On the contrary, I feel we often need some form of masochist armour to suffer today’s media headlines (Does bad news sell better than good news?).

Not only this, but queries regarding how to treat maids comes up frequently on this forum and I am disappointed to see how many expats’ main concern is how to avoid legal obligations and reduce costs.

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Help others in Colombia by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Colombia.