I generally don’t make New Year’s resolutions, I don’t believe in them. But this year I believe I’ll make an exception. My project will be to find someone else with whom to share the services of our maid (Erika The Efficient). I am, ahem, more than a little unhappy with my counterpart. Let me explain…
One of the cultural divides between native Mexicans and expatriates in Cabo involves the use of domestic help. Generalization is never a good idea, but as a rule Mexican households expect to have a full time person taking care of the casa; and often the maid lives in. This is why you see maid’s quarters but no dishwashers in homes at all price points (if the developers are targeting the Mexican market).
On the other hand, most Americans and Canadians living here prefer to have someone who just comes in a few days a week. That means one maid will work for anywhere between two and three different ‘señoras’ a week. These are in general informal arrangements without the benefit of contracts, unemployment or health insurance. But what many Gringos don’t take into consideration is that there is still an obligation, and the expectation of steady employment.
The amount maids make here is minimal. Erika’s friends think she’s lucky to be overpaid at 350 pesos (about $27 US) for about a 6 hour day. Perhaps because the cost seems minimal to the employers they fail to understand how vitally important that income is to their maid. Many, like Erika, are single moms trying to raise a family on what they earn cleaning houses. And that’s not an easy task. Like Erika, their dream is to keep their children in school so that they will be qualified for better work (that much is pretty universal, no?). Erika’s son is now in Secondaria (kind of like middle school). I’m pretty sure he’s the first in the family to go that far. Why am I so sure? Because she reminds me nearly every day that he’s in Secondaria! She’s extremely proud of him, and should be.
Anyway, my point is that your maid counts on the income from cleaning your house to take care of her family. It is an obligation you are taking on when you hire her. She and her family should not suffer just because you decided to take a vacation. Which is just what my counterpart did last month (presumably Thanksgiving) and I found out today she’s done it again! Simply left town and told Erika she wouldn’t be needed until they get back. Last month she was lucky: a friend of mine needed someone to clean a couple of vacant houses, which took up much of the slack. I don’t know if we’ll be so lucky this time, I’m sure I can pick up one or two days for special projects but that probably won’t be enough. That other señora would never think to go on vacation and leave her dogs to starve, but she apparently does not have the same concern for the woman who cleans up after her and them. I know who she is; she also doesn’t pay her homeowner’s dues. Erika deserves better than that low-life. And I’m going to do everything I can to find a better alternative.
Whew! Thanks for listening, I needed to vent. And, I know many of you who read this are preparing to retire to Cabo or some other city in Mexico. So maybe this will be helpful when the time comes for you to hire a maid, or gardener, or other steady worker. And if you’re looking for an honest, hardworking and efficient maid three days a week: let’s talk.
Carol Billups is Broker/Owner of Cabo Realty Pros. She has enjoyed working with both buyers and sellers for over twelve years and still thinks hers is the best job on earth. She is also the real estate columnist for Los Cabos Magazine. You can read more of her articles on the website blog www.caborealtypros.com. You can reach her from the U.S. or Canada at 1-760-481-7694, or in Cabo at 044-624-147-7541. You can listen to our 24/7 broadcast on http://www.livecabo.net for a mix of happy music, weather reports and local information.
© 2013 Carol S. Billups
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