Settling In 103is split between live-in (puertas adentro) maids and those
who come only for the day (puertas afuera). Most maids are
expected to clean, cook, do laundry, iron and take care of
the children. They wear their own clothes. If you would like
them to wear a uniform, you are expected to provide it. You
should at least provide them with a delantal (housecoat) to
wear over and protect their clothes. Live-in maids do not
work on Sundays. The current salary for a full-time live-in
maid is about US$ 250 per month.
A lot of these women come from low-income backgrounds
and a large percentage come from the Temuco area and are
of Indian origin. Peruvian maids working illegally in Chile
are becoming a common addition to Chilean households.
Maids who work on a daily basis often have their own
families and live in lower-income neighbourhoods. A maid
who has been with the same family for a very long time
is practically considered a member of that family and is
treated well.
Families who are searching for a maid use the ‘nana
network’. Most maids have a friend or a relative who is
looking for work with a family. If you are looking to hire
a maid you can either ask around or go to an agency. The
agencies may provide more guarantees, but regardless of
how the maid is hired, you would be well advised to insist
on talking to her former employers. Although most are
trustworthy, there are always a few bad apples. You may want
to keep a copy of her Carnet de Identidad. Finally, if you go
on vacation ask her to return the keys. You may find your
maid to be loyal and trustworthy, but you can never be sure
who has access to her keys.
Laws protecting maids state, among other things, that
in addition to salary, an employer must contribute to the
employee’s retirement fund and health care plan. Working
hours, breaks and days off are also dictated by law. The
government makes every attempt to ensure that these laws
are observed and if a maid can prove non-compliance, her
employer faces stiff financial penalties. Although a significant
number of people circumvent the law, either by arrangement
with the maid (i.e., she receives a higher salary but no