Salary and Benefits for Colombian Maid or Domestic Worker

If you employ a maid, nanny, gardener, driver, or any other domestic worker in Colombia, you must provide the wages and employment benefits required by Colombian labor law. Meeting these obligations helps you avoid legal disputes, fines, and costly penalties.

Under Law 1788 of 2016, domestic workers have the right to receive employment benefits such as the prima de servicios (service bonus) and paid vacation. Although Colombian law allows employers to hire domestic workers through either a written or verbal employment agreement, legal experts strongly recommend signing a written contract. A written agreement clearly defines each party’s rights and responsibilities and helps prevent misunderstandings.

However, choosing not to prepare a written contract does not exempt you from your legal obligations. You must still pay all mandatory salaries and benefits established by law. In many cases, verbal agreements are treated as indefinite-term employment contracts, making the employer responsible for complying with all applicable labor regulations.

As more households in Colombia hire domestic staff, employers should understand the legal requirements that come with the employment relationship. A domestic worker performs services on a regular basis under the employer’s direction and receives compensation in return. Their responsibilities may include cleaning, cooking, laundry, ironing, childcare, pet care or pet sitting, or other household tasks. Colombian labor law also classifies personal drivers and gardeners who work for a household as domestic workers, meaning they are entitled to the same labor protections and benefits.

Types of Domestic Work

Different modalities of a domestic worker include:

1. Live-In Workers (Internas): Those who reside at the place of work.
2. Live-Out Workers (Externos): Those who do not reside at the place of work.
3. Part-Time Domestic Workers (Trabajadoras domésticas por días): Those who do not live at the place of work and only work a few days a week, either for one or multiple employers. Regardless of the type of arrangement with your domestic worker, they can be bound by an employment contract, whether written or verbal, for a fixed or indefinite term.

Salary and Benefits paid to a Colombian maid or domestic worker

Now, let’s establish the labor rights that domestic workers have:

• Salary Payment.
• Transportation Allowance: If the worker lives at the place of service, they are not entitled to this payment.
• Bonus Payment: Equivalent to 15 days of salary, paid in two periods:
  • Before June 30.
  • Before December 20.
• Vacation: Equivalent to 15 working days of paid rest after one year of service.
• Severance Pay (Cesantías).
• Severance Pay Interest (Intereses de Cesantías).
• Uniform and Shoe Allowances (Dotaciones):
• Enrollment to the Comprehensive Social Security System:
  • EPS – Health System (only if the worker is live-in, interna).
  • Pension.
  • Occupational Hazards (ARL).
  • Compensation Fund (Caja de compensación).

Although meeting your legal obligations as an employer may increase your household expenses, it can save you from much larger costs in the future. Labor disputes, lawsuits, and government penalties often cost far more than providing the salary and benefits required by law. By complying with Colombian labor regulations, you protect yourself while contributing to fair and responsible employment practices. These legal obligations apply regardless of whether you own your home or rent it.

To make the process easier, you can use our online calculator to estimate the prima de servicios (year-end bonus) owed to your domestic worker in Colombia.

If you need assistance preparing an employment contract, calculating bonuses, vacation pay, or any other mandatory employment benefits, complete our contact form. One of our representatives will contact you as soon as possible to help you comply with Colombian labor requirements. You can also reach us quickly through WhatsApp.

Labor Reform July 2025

Recently the Colombian congress approved a new labor reform. One of the reform’s core elements is the mandatory use of formal written contracts for all domestic workers. Regardless of whether the employment is full-time, part-time, or by the day, employers must draft a contract that clearly outlines working conditions, schedules, salaries, and benefits.

The reform also sets the daily work limit for domestic workers at 8 hours. Employers must pay overtime for any work beyond that limit or nighttime surcharges for work after 7:00 p.m.

To learn more about the new Colombian labor reforms, please read our Labor reform limiting a domestic worker’s hours approved in Colombia article.