Maids' wages.

charles hewitt · Post by **charles hewitt** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 11:16 am

Can anyone help with the Portuguese "law" / custom and practise regarding maids wages? I seem to be paying 13 months wages; to cover holidays; and her taking 1 month off as well.
Cheers,
Chas.

e-richard · Post by **e-richard** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 12:47 pm

13 months wages is very common. In special circumstances, 14 months.

Don't know about time off though.

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 4:56 pm

The normal is 13 months +NI They also get to take a holiday, but obviously not during the season.
They also get quite anal about taking bank holidays off, even if it isnt convienient

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:11 pm

Bruce Wallis wrote:The normal is 13 months +NI They also get to take a holiday, but obviously not during the season.
They also get quite anal about taking bank holidays off, even if it isnt convienient

Why shouldn,t they, they have a legal entiltlement

Bruce Wallis · Post by **Bruce Wallis** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:19 pm

Im perfectly aware of that, but they work in a service industry and therefore should be prepared to show some flexibility over bank holidays. It's called give and take. Nobody is trying to deny rights.
I work in a service industry, recognise the fact and take my bank holidays as days off in lieu when necessary.
OTHERWISE....you wouldnt be able to sit and watch your Christmas Day telly would you? Because it is people like me give up our Bank holidays to bring it to you

Lesley Jean · Post by **Lesley Jean** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:29 pm

Bruce Wallis wrote:I work in a service industry, recognise the fact and take my bank holidays as days off in lieu when necessary.
OTHERWISE....you wouldn't be able to sit and watch your Christmas Day telly would you? Because it is people like me give up our Bank holidays to bring it to you

And a big round of applause to all that do work on days when we just want to have a holiday.

Sharen Crane · Post by **Sharen Crane** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 5:37 pm

Bruce Wallis wrote:OTHERWISE....you wouldnt be able to sit and watch your Christmas Day telly would you? Because it is people like me give up our Bank holidays to bring it to you

Just as well you do Bruce or else we would be forced to watch endless Simpsons as per Sky 1.

I, for one, thank you

x

EMM · Post by **EMM** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 6:23 pm

And other than in the retail /food sector get paid substaintial premiums for doing so.

widge · Post by **widge** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 10:40 am

Getting back to your question Charles - I pay our maid on the same basis as yourself. I seem to recall this topic has arisen before but the emphasis was on rates. Might be worth checking the archive?

shanagarry · Post by **shanagarry** » Thu Dec 11, 2008 1:45 pm

Is this an issue over 'value for money' or 'carping about the cost'.

In our case we have had the same maid for 12 years - she came with property and from what I hear from friends - we are fortunate. She treats the property as if it is her total responsibility. Needless to say - we have never had a problem and in the days when we rented it - she made sure everything was 'shipshape' before and after client's visits. She would suggest clients it was best to avoid and we did - we have a very good partnership.

In our case we are getting very good value for our money and we do pay a 13th month plus her holiday and am happy to do so. Our arrangement with our gardener is the same and we have a beautiful garden as a result.

On the other hand some friends of ours have a maid they wish they could get rid of - but can't find a suitable replacement. They refuse to pay the 13th month in the hope she will 'go'.

Striking the right balance is crucial and it takes a bit of effort - on both sides.

widge · Post by **widge** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 9:43 am

Easy Shanagarry, it started as a perfectly reasonable question about Portuguese custom. Do you know if there are any laws governing the employment of maids?

I'm sure most owners would want to know that they are working within the legislation as well as being reasonable.

Michael Crane · Post by **Michael Crane** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 10:37 am

From a holiday-makers point of view I find (daily) maid service intrusive. Quite often it'd be nice to laze in bed and just chill out but instead we have to be up and showered and dressed before the maid starts her routine and travels around the villa.

We holiday (mostly) over Christmas and we look forward to the days when we know for certain the villa will be ours and the maid will not pottering about. We always feel obliged to leave her to it so we often just go out for an hour or so to let her get on with it.

Most maids work 1 to 3 hours for each owner each day, and I would imagine they have 2 or 3 owners for whom they work. This might not be the case, but if it is, aren't villa owners a little like cat owners in this? There are six million cats in the UK and 12 million cat owners!

shanagarry · Post by **shanagarry** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:08 am

Widge

I don't understand your point - what aspect of the law is it that we appear to have contravened in the way we pay and treat our maid - please enlighten me?

We have nothing but the greatest respect and admiration for the way she looks after our property and believe in paying accordingly. So much so that we look upon our relationship with our maid as a friendship.

What others do is their affair - be it inside or outside the law. If the service they receive is sub-standard (which it appears to be) and they decide on a course of action - so be it!

widge · Post by **widge** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:22 pm

Shanagarry,

My point is that Charles asked a perfectly reasonable question and your reply inferred that he was "carping" which he wasn't.

You then accuse me of insinuating that you have broken the law, which i haven't, indeed perhaps you should read my post again and explain to all our readers how you came to that conclusion?

shanagarry · Post by **shanagarry** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 3:43 pm

Widge

There have been numerous issues raised on here regarding Maids - their wages - their working hours and so on. I would have thought that all the questions imaginable on the subject would have been answered by now - seemingly not.

On the matter of me 'accusing' you of something - I suggest you read my mail again - I simply asked if there was something in my earlier post that constituted me breaking the law - I don't believe there is.

If Charles is offended I am sure he will tell me and if I have - my apologies are extended to him.

Anyway, let's leave it there - it's Christmas time and I wish you and yours - Boas Festas

Maids' wages.

Maids' wages.

Maid's Wages

Maids