TICOS & TICAS
Tico is a colloquial name for the natives of Costa Rica. The
locals refer to themselves as tico or tica (female). The tico
ideal is that of a very friendly, helpful, laid back, unhurried,
educated and environmentally aware people, with little worry for
deadlines or the "normal" stresses of life in the United States.
Visitors from North America are often referred to as gringos,
which is virtually always used in a good-natured way.
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Costa Rica's Affordable Domestic Employees
A live-in maid or other full-time help usually costs between
$150 and $200 per month. Often you can hire a couple for a
bargain price, with the woman working as a maid and the man
working as a full-time gardener and watchman. Before hiring any
employee, be aware of all your requirements as an employer.
Contact the ARCR for up to date information.
In Costa Rica, a maid usually does everything from washing
clothes to taking care of small children. You can also use your
maid to stand in line for you or run errands and bargain for you
in stores, since foreigners often pay more for some items
because of their naiveté and poor language skills.
After you have had an employee for a number of years, they begin
to think of you as a parental figure. As a result, it is not
unusual for an employee to ask for loans, advances, help with
money for family members who wish to build a home, furnish their
house, provide school clothes for their children, or provide
medical care and medications for family members.
General handymen and carpenters are also inexpensive. If you are
infirm, one of the above people can assist you with many daily
tasks. To find quality help, check with other retirees for
references or look in local newspapers (The Tico Times, La
República or La Nación).
Employers must also pay minimum wage to employees. This wage is
set by the Ministry of Labor (223-7166) and depends on the job
and skills required. Average wages for unskilled workers start
at about $120 per month. Live-in help can receive an additional
50 percent more that is not actually paid to them but is used
when computing certain benefits and bonuses.
Live-in domestic help cannot be required to work more than 12
hours a day, although few expect this. Live-in workers usually
work eight hours a day like other workers. Most regular
employees work an eight-hour day, five days per week. Live-in
employees can work more than this but have to be given some time
off. (costaricaretirementvacationproperties.com)
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COSTA RICANS DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA
Health and longevity in Costa Rica have been improving over the
years. For example, the average life expectancy in 1927 was
approximately 40 years. The average life expectancy in 2000 for
women was 77 and for men it was 72. This is attributed to an
overall improvement in health conditions and modernization of
their medical practices and system.
The Social Security system provides excellent medical care and
hospitalization. Health care is available to all Costa Ricans
citizens, legal residents and foreigners. While studying abroad
and learning Spanish in Costa Rica, you can receive quality
health care if you happened to need it. (thinkabroad.net)
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