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Hello,
My wife and I are moving to our small 15 acre farm in Costa Rica shortly and I am interested in what others are paying their caretakers on their farm. We will be providing a nice house for a family to live in plus their water and electric. The typical work will be to keep the grounds in nice shape, take care of some of the animals, and clean our house and stables. A lot of the property is in woods, rivers, etc.so there propably about 6-7 acres of usable land. I noticed a posting in this forum on salaries but does that take into account housing, etc.? Also do you need to provide the caretaker a vehicle?
Just like to know what the going rates are.
Thanks ahead of time.
Edited on Apr 21, 2009 06:38
You can see a list of minimum salaries at: [ http://www.ministrabajo.go.cr/documentos/pdf%202009/salario%20primer%20semestre%202009.pdf ] but I can not see the job of caretaker and don’t honestly know what’s required when you are supplying housing…
What is absolutely ESSENTIAL is that you have a proper legal contract with whomever you have working for you, Costa Rica’s Labor Laws are draconian and nearly always decide in favor of the employee and not the employer.
It is very rare that we hear about cases of squatters of someone’s property but it is often the caretaker that becomes the squatter so that’s another reason why you should get your lawyer to draw up legal contracts to protect you and your property from everyone you have working for you and also everyone that is living on your property…
Providing them with a vehicle would be a huge additional expense for you and based on what you are telling us, I’m not sure it is necessary however, if you feel it is required, maybe you could offer the vehicle as an incentive after a certain period of time (maybe six months??) when they have proven to you – beyond a shadow of a doubt – that they are hardworking, honest, loyal and trustworthy are capable of looking after one…
Scott Oliver – Founder
WeLoveCostarica.comBe certain to discuss with your attorney the implications of providing housing and utilities and maybe a car. While these are “in kind” and not cash compensation, it’s my understanding that they still count as income as far as Social Security and maybe workers’ compensation are concerned. There’s a formula for determining the value of housing (and probably the car).
Our worker and his family have the ‘perks’ you mention.
He is paid about $360 per month(depending on the $$$ rate), which is above average, plus INS(just under $200 per yr), CAJA (just under $100 per month, which is a lot but this is what we must pay), aguinaldo, which is an extra months pay per year and due by Dec 1st, etc. So it soon mounts up. When you apply for the INS they determine the rate with housing etc. taken into consideration. You must ‘fill in the required form’ every month.
Do not provide a vehicle, else you will need to provide everything that goes with it, gas, insurance etc.I forgot to mention that a raise in salary is mandatory every January.
Sorry, another thought, if the wife is hired/working separately, she ‘may be expected to be paid separately’ as I don’t know about this. You will have to check this part out, since if she is ‘hurt on the job’ she will not be covered under her husbands INS/workmans compensation. CAJA covers the immediate family, with children under 18 or going to university but no adults still living in the home.
Edited on Apr 21, 2009 13:51
Edited on Apr 21, 2009 14:08
Thanks, costaricafinca for your detailed response. As Scott mentioned, it is a good idea to establish the working relationship with the caretaker(s) in a legal agreement. Did you choose to go that route? Any added details appreciated. Also, how did you go about selecting the caretaker and establishing a successful long-term professional and personal relationship? Thank you.
The first worker didn’t work out, as he wanted to be ‘the boss’! Such as when someone came up to speak my husband, he would hand around instead on carrying on with the task at hand. He didn’t work if we weren’t here and he had been highly recommended by the original American owner. He was ‘let go’
We asked around and when I went to the home of the young woman who was helping me with my Spanish, she in turn spoke with her sister. Sister & husband came and ‘checked us out’. They were from a good family and have their own finca, now with 3 nice cement houses on it.
Husband had limited education and was smart but couldn’t read or write.
They have been with us for 3 years, have never taken advantage of us, would trust them with anything. Very hard workers, both of them, although the wife bakes and sells her goods locally, they insisted they partially pay the electric.
We now have a retired teacher that comes to the farm for ‘Kindergarten classes’ for the worker and my husband in Spanish of course. This takes the pressure of of our friend. He is doing well in ‘school’.
We have meals together on occasion, and sometimes go places together, but we each live our own lives and we know that when we are away, they look out for the property, pets and animals on this very large property! Plus, he has love of growing things and we work together on new ideas. We hire extra manpower when we/he feels that they are needed.
There is no legal agreement in place.*We had hired staff before on our coffee farm, but not one with accommodation provided.
Edited on Apr 22, 2009 08:13
This post has provided excellent information as I will be moving down this year and will require the services of a groundskeeper. I spoke with one local gentleman (Dominical area) in March who informed me that if I provided him accomodation on my property, his salary would be unaffected. He was asking for 550.00 US per month. I thought this was a little steep particularly when he informed me that I would also be required to pay for all his expenses i.e. utilities. Needless to say I’m still looking.
Scott,
Would a groundskeeper not come under the category of Peon de Jardin? or perhaps Peon en General for a caretaker, which pay the same daily salary of 6,446 colones.
Edited on Apr 22, 2009 10:46
Realize that if you have someone ‘on site’ you are getting a ‘night watchmen’ free! And if you need to travel, it definitely helps that local residents know that someone is usually around.
When a potential worker tells you “If I provided him accomodation on my property, his salary would be unaffected” he is quite right.
Awilson1333, it is getting harder and harder to get workers to ‘work the land’ as the salary is much higher in the construction/tourism business, but what he is asking for, is high. It may be due the hours you wish him to work? If there is some ‘expertise’ required it may be necessary to pay what he is asking. If you just require him to keep the grass cut it is very different from hiring him as a gardener. Also, there are more ‘prospects’ around the beach areas.
Utilities are usually included when supplying a house, except for cooking gas.
The size of property must be taken into consideration as well. A property about 15 Ac. which one may want kept in pristine consdition is different again, for a 100 acres that is mostly ‘au natural’.
We pay for a land phone as well, which I forgot to mention.The best way to do nothing wrong and almost everything right is, go to the next office of Ministerio de Trabajo, together with your future worker (plus wife if she will be working too) and explain what you need to be done and what you are providing (house, food ? etc.)They tell you what the minimum wage will be for the job. Pay full salary and charge rent. Or instead of paying rent they have to guard at night (value will off course be included in end of year benefits, CCSS, INS etc.). If they are not getting paid for night-guarding you can not really expect them to be there every night, they may want to visit family or whatsoever over the weekend etc. Whatever you agree on, draw a contract with an attorney. Wages have to be raised 1st of january and 1st of july.
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