Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Did you know that Housemaids in cyprus have to pay 6.3% of their salary in social Insurance contributions, as do their employers?

Yes, I know all employed people do but:

they cannot claim unemployment benefit as, if they lose their jobs their Visas are cancelled and they have to leave the island.

they do not use public medical services as they are required to have private medcial insurance.

they will never receive a pension as no Visa is renewed beyond 5 years - as it would allow them to claim Residency under EU legislation.

So next time you see a Housemaid or Houseboy, thank them for subsidising your public services...

thank you

lana

[B25]

Did you know that Housemaids in cyprus have to pay 6.3% of their salary in social Insurance contributions, as do their employers?

Yes, I know all employed people do but:

they cannot claim unemployment benefit as, if they lose their jobs their Visas are cancelled and they have to leave the island.

they do not use public medical services as they are required to have private medcial insurance.

they will never receive a pension as no Visa is renewed beyond 5 years - as it would allow them to claim Residency under EU legislation.

So next time you see a Housemaid or Houseboy, thank them for subsidising your public services...

thank you

lana

They come here at their own free will. Cyprus offers them a means to support their families back home, where they wouldn't otherwise. The money they earn leaves the country with no benefit to anyone else. What little they pay is no comparision to the monetory benefits their familes get.

So, its not as bad as you make out.

[supporttheunderdog]

Dear B25

They are however providing services at substantial less cost and probably under a lot worse conditions, eg working hours, etc., than a Cypriot would accept, and they are putting something into the economy; their labour, in return for which they are fully entittled to do what they like with their money, including sending it out of Cyprus.

It does otherwise appear very unjust (if not racist) that they are not entitled to benefits etc, to which thay have contributed: the comment that their families get a compartively big benefit is not any excuse.

As an alterntive, if you want to keep that money in Cyprus. employ Cypriots!

[Oracle]

It's not "racist" as "supporttheunderdog" is quick to accuse; because, it doesn't matter what "race" they happen to be.

It's a matter of economic policy similar if not more lenient than all those practiced by every other country in the world.

N.I. goes towards a great many things that make their lives easier. Even if it's only to keep the "employer" comfortable so that they have a job, to earn, to pay the "housemaids".

So yes, this is probably amongst the dullest of threads.

[B25]

Dear B25

They are however providing services at substantial less cost and probably under a lot worse conditions, eg working hours, etc., than a Cypriot would accept, and they are putting something into the economy; their labour, in return for which they are fully entittled to do what they like with their money, including sending it out of Cyprus.

It does otherwise appear very unjust (if not racist) that they are not entitled to benefits etc, to which thay have contributed: the comment that their families get a compartively big benefit is not any excuse.

As an alterntive, if you want to keep that money in Cyprus. employ Cypriots!

Dear STUD,

I don't agree with your assessment, sorry. They do come here knowing full well the conditions underwhich they will be working. They have elected to do so, but even with these conditions, they are a million times better than back home. Even in the UK, you cannot get free medical when you first go there, even if you do pay NI. In fact a self employed person, paying oudles of NI, you cannot get dole, so hardly surprising a small country like Cyp to refuse immediate free medical to incoming workers.

I can work in the UK and get in excess of 50K pa, I chose to live and work here, at substantially less income and lesser conditions, that my choice.

You have to remember these people have been brought here and should have the medical cover in place by their agents or employers. I bet they don't get €5 / hour in sri lanka, more like €5 / week.

Nothing racist, just telling it as it is, further, if they didn't come then yes some people would have to employ Cypriot help, so in effect they are under cutting the local work force as do the Eastern Europeans, but thats another story.

It wasn't a case of WANTING to keep the money in cyprus, I was explaining that they cannot expect the free medicals AND then send their money away. They don't pay any tax. So if they need government services, police, fire or whatever, why should they not make some contributions??

[Get Real!]

Probably the most dull thread ever to be posted on CF.....?

Only because you presented a shallow and selective glimpse of an otherwise interesting social issue!

Ah well…

[Svetlana]

It was meant to be mildly amusing, but I forgot how sensitive people can be on CF. OK, GR, happy to discuss any social issues regarding domestic Housepersons...you start.

lana

[Kikapu]

Did you know that Housemaids in cyprus have to pay 6.3% of their salary in social Insurance contributions, as do their employers?

Yes, I know all employed people do but:

they cannot claim unemployment benefit as, if they lose their jobs their Visas are cancelled and they have to leave the island.

they do not use public medical services as they are required to have private medcial insurance.

they will never receive a pension as no Visa is renewed beyond 5 years - as it would allow them to claim Residency under EU legislation.

So next time you see a Housemaid or Houseboy, thank them for subsidising your public services...

thank you

lana

Isn't it the same for all Cypriots (and world over) who pay National Insurance towards their pension for the most part of their lives and then die short of their retirement age, where that money is lost if they have no dependents or a wife. Shouldn't that money go to whom ever he wants that money to go to in the form of a will upon his passing away.?

[Svetlana]

Yes, but the point of my post was the irony was that those who earned least (€3900pa) subsidised those who earn so much more - and also never enjoy the benefits, that others might.

[Gasman]

but even with these conditions, they are a million times better than back home

So - in a civilised society - that makes it OK then does it?

They have alleviated a lot of the cost of looking after aged Cypriots too. Much cheaper to employ one than to pay for private nursing care.

They are outside cleaning cars and yards at the crack of dawn. Sometimes the Cypriot Lady of the house will just stand WATCHING them work. In Limassol I lived near a house where the owner made the maid climb over the veranda rail when she'd finished cleaning the verandah - didn't want her walking through the house with her feet wet.

And these were some of those being verbally abused down on Finicoudes by the Neo Nazis. Perhaps they'd like to go round and look after their old granny instead?

Best I've seen recently was in the new Lidls. Elderly Cypriot lady pottering along with her minder behind her. She just POINTED at everything she wanted and the maid picked it up and put it in the trolley. Not a word was exchanged.