Comments on: Housekeeping in Cancun http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/ A Gringa Writes About Life In Cancun, Mexico Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:54:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: RiverGirl http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/comment-page-1/#comment-882 RiverGirl Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:42:53 +0000 http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/#comment-882 It is true that running up the cost of labor by "overpaying" probably is a bad thing in many ways. I mean I don't want to hurt my housekeeper by having her miss out on jobs because she's holding out for too much money. But I guess she needs to know how to charge what she can get, i.e. charge more when she can get more, and less when she can't. She has to take that responsibility. It is true that running up the cost of labor by “overpaying” probably is a bad thing in many ways. I mean I don’t want to hurt my housekeeper by having her miss out on jobs because she’s holding out for too much money. But I guess she needs to know how to charge what she can get, i.e. charge more when she can get more, and less when she can’t. She has to take that responsibility.

]]> By: heatherinparadise http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/comment-page-1/#comment-875 heatherinparadise Thu, 03 Jan 2008 06:32:04 +0000 http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/#comment-875 I completely understand your point of view, and I hold it myself with regard to paying a fair wage for fair work. One point of view that I had never thought of, however, came from one of my Mexican friends. He complained that when gringos pay a wage higher than the "going" rate, it makes it very difficult for Mexicans to hire help when they need it, since people know they can just go to gringos for work instead. It's a fine and treacherous line; one that I struggle with mightily sometimes. Like you, however, I pay what I can afford to pay or I do without. I completely understand your point of view, and I hold it myself with regard to paying a fair wage for fair work.

One point of view that I had never thought of, however, came from one of my Mexican friends. He complained that when gringos pay a wage higher than the “going” rate, it makes it very difficult for Mexicans to hire help when they need it, since people know they can just go to gringos for work instead.

It’s a fine and treacherous line; one that I struggle with mightily sometimes. Like you, however, I pay what I can afford to pay or I do without.

]]> By: RiverGirl http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/comment-page-1/#comment-871 RiverGirl Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:17:28 +0000 http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/#comment-871 I think most people I know here do pay their workers decently and treat them well. But I am bothered by the attitude that some people have about exploiting cheap labor. It's just wrong. I think most people I know here do pay their workers decently and treat them well. But I am bothered by the attitude that some people have about exploiting cheap labor. It’s just wrong.

]]> By: johndish http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/comment-page-1/#comment-868 johndish Tue, 01 Jan 2008 15:31:58 +0000 http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/#comment-868 Kim, I really do miss the personal attention we were able to afford in Cancun. But, we paid well (against the scale) and treated our people well. Our last maid lived with us and we paid her 1100 pesos per week but, it was better than any other job she could have gotten. Additionally at xmas we gave her a full month bonus and she did everything with us as family not as help. Our gardner ate lunch with us and recieved a full month bonus at xmas. I was just in Arriaga, Chiapas and the going rate there is 50 pesos per day. Now 50 pesos in Arriaga is a hell of a lot more in Arriaga than in cancun but, still. And we wonder why people are dying to cross the border and do construction for $8 an hour? Kim,

I really do miss the personal attention we were able to afford in Cancun. But, we paid well (against the scale) and treated our people well.

Our last maid lived with us and we paid her 1100 pesos per week but, it was better than any other job she could have gotten. Additionally at xmas we gave her a full month bonus and she did everything with us as family not as help.

Our gardner ate lunch with us and recieved a full month bonus at xmas.

I was just in Arriaga, Chiapas and the going rate there is 50 pesos per day. Now 50 pesos in Arriaga is a hell of a lot more in Arriaga than in cancun but, still.

And we wonder why people are dying to cross the border and do construction for $8 an hour?

]]> By: islagringo http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/comment-page-1/#comment-865 islagringo Tue, 01 Jan 2008 01:58:19 +0000 http://www.hiddencancun.com/rivergirl/2007/12/31/housekeeping-in-cancun/#comment-865 you most certainly have the right attitude going about this situation. Good for you! you most certainly have the right attitude going about this situation. Good for you!

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