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House staff

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Britpilot
  10/23/2021 13:23 EST

Hi all,
We are renting quite a large house in PC and will need some help. What is the usual payment for a live in cook/cleaner? also what conditions, ie hours available per day and days off? Benefits, insurance etc?
Do they cook their own food?
Any guidance appreciated in this.
Cheers,

ranadelnorte
  10/23/2021 14:39 EST

The going rate for a live-in housekeeper in Panama City is $500/month, payable bi-weekly, plus room, board & benefits. For live-out staff, some employers provide transport costs. Live-in vs. daily help is harder to find as Panamanian women today prefer the freedom to have time to themselves. Your choice whether to hire someone without papers. In any case, it is imperative to have them sign a contract, drawn up by your immigration lawyer, to sign for their pay, and to check references. You should familiarize yourself with Labour Code, lest you get taken advantage of. There are too many caveats for a post here: do your own due diligence in this regard. Personally I’d insist on proof of Covid vaccination and have them take a hepatitis screen at your expense if they’ll be handling food.
The work week in Panama is 6 days, with Sundays and various statutory holidays off. Work hours are 9/day with 30 minutes for lunch and 2 breaks of 15 min, so actual worked time is 8 hours. If you require them to work outside normal hours, such as serving at dinner parties, then you compensate them with extra pay or time off as agreed. These days many house staff won’t iron, so if you have 7 shirts/week plus several loads of sheets, you’ll have to take them to a commercial laundry.
Normally your staff eat your menu, however they might prefer to make their own breakfast such as arepas if that isn’t what you normally eat. You must provide them what they eat. The main meal of the day in Panama is lunch. Having them cook 2 different menus would cut into their workday.
Good luck!
.

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ranadelnorte
  10/23/2021 14:41 EST

P.S. Forgot to mention that you must provide two uniforms of your choice, plus a dressier uniform if you want them to serve at parties.

Britpilot
  10/24/2021 03:00 EST

Hey Ranadelnorte,
Many thanks for the info, a lot to take in but really usefull, especially the vaccinations and the contract,
Not sure what to do about the ironing part, my wife hates ironing, We may have to pay someone else for that. I have been told , by Panameños, that Panameñas are lazy and its best to hire someone from Guatemala or Honduras, I hope they will do the ironong.
Thanks again

ranadelnorte
  10/24/2021 04:29 EST

IMO it is best to avoid stereotypes and generalizations when it comes to ethnicity of household staff. In my experience there are good people and bad people everywhere, and good bosses and bad bosses too.
You’re more likely to employ a Venezuelan or Dominican than a Guatemalan or Honduran in Panama.
For sure having employees of any kind requires management skills that not everybody has. Too easy to dismiss someone as being lazy, when it might well be lack of proper supervision.
Are you ready to take on staff management at this point?
Good luck!

volcan357
  10/28/2021 23:28 EST

To have a full time employee and follow all of the rules is very difficult as it makes life very complicated. . Panamanians hardly ever do that unless it is a business of considerable size. In fact in all of the cases that I know about where Panamanians hire help in their homes, they pay absolutely miserable wages. Like 12 dollars a day with hardly any benefits. And of course they prefer someone who is here illegally who is afraid of being deported so they won't complain.

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ROKSlide
  10/29/2021 08:16 EST

Volcan357 -- That may be true in a small village like Volcan, but in PC that is definitely not true. There are 72 apartments in my building and more than 80% of them have full time live in maids. The people one floor below me have two women and my next door neighbor has one.

Rik61Penonome
  10/29/2021 20:17 EST

My personal view as another Brit after being here for 17 years.
As you are new in town you may be better off using an employment agency to provide daily staff. Higher cost up front but will give you time to understand the culture without ending up with unexpected liabilities.

Also, when you are ready to take the leap into employing make sure your lawyer is on top of it with any contracts.

Employment laws in Panama inevitably favour the panamanian employee against the foreign employer.

volcan357
  10/30/2021 21:55 EST

Panamanian employment laws definitely favor the employee unless the employer happens to be a Panamanian with money. Agricultural workers get paid very little even at the official rate and often they are paid less than that. People who work on government projects like road construction for example get paid pretty well.

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