Maids

[Peter C]

I have been told that to conform with the law a maid should be paid one extra month for Christmas and one extra month for holidays - on top of being paid whilst on a month's holiday. This means paying 14 months for working 11 (12 inc a months holiday). Is this true?

[Paramont]

That is normal. Portuguese civil servants are paid that way, as well as many other employees. I believe that this procedure has its roots in the fact that salaries round here are so low that Christmas and Holiday extra salaries are due to pay for people to cope with the extra expenses.

I use that scheeme with my maid, although she insists that is not fair receiving salary without working. We have to demand her strongly not to come in the month´s holiday as she thinks that receivng two salaries for that month is a such a compliment that she must pay back by coming to work. The country were she came from doesn't follow that scheme. What a beatifull lady, I wish we could keep her forever...

[Gambrinus]

14 salaries, that is the case if she works on a fixed monthly contract - don't forget that you will also have to pay 24,5% social security and possibly she will need some subsidised transport.

[Peter C]

Thanks for the confirmation. I don't object to paying and I do pay the social security on top. I just want to get it right.

[Guest]

Do you mean I have to pay 14months..I have a cleaner that comes in twice a week for couple of hours and I pay her cash.....She is very happy with this job but I dont want to get into Nat Insurance and other things so if Im not legal she will have to go...advise pls

[Guest 1]

Strictly off the record it depends what the maid wants. Mine wanted NS and to be 'in the system'. Many are happy to work for cash.

[Guest]

mine has several cleaning jobs and she pays her own caixa (NS), so it's cash in hand