Labour Ministry Wants to Suspend Foreign Domestic Worker Permits
A recommendation by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social (MTSS) to the Dirección Nacional de Migración y Extranjería (immigration service) last March 23 would effectively suspend all work permits for foreign maids or "domesticas" as they are called in Spanish.

The recommendation by the Labour Ministry is based on a study that reveals that there isn't enough work of Costa Rican domesticas let alone allowing foreign domesticas.

According to Fernando Trejos, Ministro de Trabajo, the unemployment rate for Tica domesticas is 10.5%, well above the 6.5% national unemployment rate and that one quarter of those who find work, it is on a daily or temporary basis.

The study also reveals that one in four foreign domesticas are seeking additional work or hours to supplement their income and that only one in two find permanent work while one in five do not find any work at all.

Trejos said that there are currently 55 job offers through his ministry of which only 32 are requesting Ticas. Trejos added that he feels there is no justification for foreign domesticas to come look for work in Costa Rica.

The current law sets out a basic salary of ¢72.000 colones (us$142.50) per month for a full time domestic worker. If the domestica is required to live and sleep at her place of employment, she is to be given room and board, which is equal to an additional 30% of the base salary.

Trejos added that the MTSS will be pressing the immigration service to comply with its request.