Hiring household staff in Costa Rica involves more than agreeing on an hourly price. Start by defining the job, checking the correct employment category and budgeting for wages, benefits and insurance. A clear arrangement protects both the household and the person doing the work.
Define the role before discussing pay
Write down the tasks you need: cleaning, laundry, cooking, ordinary personal assistance or another service. Be specific about the number of people in the home, pets, supplies, access and the expected schedule. Ask about experience and references with the applicant’s permission, and discuss any equipment or training needed.
The CCSS domestic-worker guidance covers household cleaning and similar tasks, including non-specialized care. It excludes gardening, maintenance, security, drivers and specialized caregivers from that particular insurance category. A person working at your home is therefore not automatically classified as a domestic worker for every purpose. Confirm the correct classification with CCSS and MTSS.
Put the agreement in writing
The Ministry of Labour provides a domestic-work contract template. Use it to record the parties, duties, workplace, start date, pay, working hours and rest arrangements. Make sure both parties understand the agreement and retain a signed copy.
Discuss changes to duties or hours before they occur. If an agency supplies a worker, ask it to explain who is the employer, who pays benefits and who maintains the insurance. Obtain advice on the actual arrangement rather than relying on a label such as “freelancer.”
Budget beyond the basic wage
MTSS’s domestic-work guidance explains that workers retain employment rights even when working by the hour or day. These include holidays, weekly rest, overtime, social security, occupational-risk insurance, paid vacation and aguinaldo. Notice and severance apply when legally due. Part-time arrangements do not remove these rights.
For domestic workers, MTSS states an entitlement to fifteen paid vacation days annually. Ask MTSS or your payroll professional to calculate the applicable payment for the actual schedule. The ministry also explains how accommodation and food, when applicable as salary in kind, affect benefit calculations.
Check the applicable minimum-wage decree for the year and job category before agreeing on pay. Do not copy an old wage or deduction percentage from an undated article. Our minimum-wage guide explains where to find the official information.
Arrange CCSS registration and occupational-risk coverage
CCSS provides instructions for registering as a domestic-work employer, including its virtual-office route and assistance through its branches. Confirm the registration, reporting and payment arrangements promptly when setting up the employment relationship. Keep proof of what you submit and pay.
Social security and occupational-risk insurance are separate matters. The INS occupational-risk insurance information includes an RT Hogar option for household work. Describe the actual duties to the insurer and confirm the appropriate cover, declared workplace and worker information before relying on a policy.
Keep a simple employment record
- The signed agreement and any agreed changes.
- Days and hours worked, including overtime.
- Wage payments and lawful deductions.
- Vacation, holiday and aguinaldo records.
- CCSS reports and occupational-risk insurance documents.
- Contact details and instructions for reporting an accident.
Review the records together when questions arise. Explain household routines, safe product use and emergency procedures without assuming the worker already knows your preferences. Provide appropriate supplies and agree on how problems will be reported.
If the arrangement changes or ends
Before ending employment, changing a schedule substantially or calculating a final payment, seek guidance for the actual circumstances. The MTSS service catalogue includes labour advice and benefit-calculation services. A general online checklist cannot calculate an individual settlement without the employment history.
Official-source review: September 7, 2026. This guide addresses household employment planning, not an individual legal opinion or immigration permission. Consult MTSS, CCSS and INS for current instructions. Images are contextual illustrations and do not show actual CRIE employees, clients or hiring services.