gdp's Comments

Guate Living : Update on Maid #4

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:24:31 +0000

Congrats! I can see the ISO is coming along pretty well. My comments below: On item #1: As your future Republican Presidential Candidate would say it: You betcha! Regarding item #2: Guatemalan people that can afford maids and force them to work 12 hours for 7 days, usually don't have the money to "lawyer up" and do end up paying at the end, call it Karma if you will, but I've seen it happen. Something you still haven't caught up in Guatemala is that "rich" people live off appearances and love to show off (or believe) they are "rich". Abusing the worker will come back and bite you in the ass no matter how much money you have and how many lawyers you hire, especially in Guatemala, you will be retaliated one way or another. The standard Jornada Diurna, which applies for Maids, as far as I know, is 8 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and 4 hours, on Saturday. On item #3: I'm not sure if I understood you correctly, but if you're saying that you should pay bonuses within the paycheck, I don't recommend you do it, but if you still go ahead and do it, make sure you have the building of the Bono 14, etc., into their paychecks in writing within the contract as well, or else, you'll end up paying at the end...yet again, since it can be taken as part of the salary. Also, once you have a signed and notarized contract, make sure to submit and register it at the Inspección General de Trabajo, you'll be sleeping much more comfortable that way. On item #4: Besides the receipts or "recibos", you need to keep, by law, " libros de salarios" or Salary Books. Keep records - signed receipts by the employees - of bono 14, bono navideño, holidays, sick time, vacation, and time off paid. Don't leave anything out. On item #5: Definitely, no loans or salary advances. Especially within the first two months of work where you have the upper hand and you can fire the worker if you deem it necessary, free of legal retaliation. Also, make sure no doggy bags go out or bags of any type go in or out, unless you know what´s inside. On item #6: My experience has been that retainers with lawyers in Guatemala don't work pretty well. If you keep your workers within legal working conditions, clean records - it's cheaper to retain an accountant that will be doing actual work -, and use common sense, I seriously doubt you'll ever need a lawyer again for labor disputes. Hire a lawyer for specific services, and keep in mind that haggling over a price of any service provided by "the lawyer" can be a fun way to get what you want. Good luck!

Guate Living : Gay Friendly in Antigua

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:11:19 +0000

I'm sorry, my mistake for thinking it's a single banner under the "gay friendly in antigua" definition in your CMS. You're right, no hidden messages there. All banners are being treated equally. ;)

Guate Living : Gay Friendly in Antigua

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:29:01 +0000

Look closely at the link, especially this part: gay-friendly-in-antigua/index.php?adclick=26 Can you read what I can read? Does it say "gay-friendly-in-antigua"?

Guate Living : Gay Friendly in Antigua

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:59:22 +0000

Mark, As the newest member of WHCMFPRIA, how can you be supporting gay friendly causes in your own blog with the "Guatemala Hostel" banner pointing to: http://guateliving.com/2009/11/gay-friendly-in-an... ?? Are you aware that there are gay "Christian Pastors" with HIV out there? http://gcmwatch.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/cogic-pa... Just add a rainbow or two to the header and that will do it. We'll understand if you don't want to talk about any more. This was a really hilarious post. Thank you!

Guate Living : Maid #4 Plays Her Hand

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:40:28 +0000

Mark, I believe you're being scammed by maid #4, but don't let the best of you come out when venting. Follow the golden rule: Do not crap where you eat. Also, if you didn't have a written contract, Labor Law in Guatemala acknowledges verbal contracts: http://www.mintrabajo.gob.gt/empleadores/contrato... Artículo 27. El contrato individual de trabajo puede ser verbal cuando se refiera: b) Al servicio doméstico. My two cents for your' ever constant future in Guatemala: 1. Use good referral services, either from friends or business owners you trust 2. Since this is going to be domestic work, unwritten gender laws in Guatemala demand that the business be managed by the wife. 3. Draw a contract, verify the Cedula or DPI (this is how it looks in case you haven't seen one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BTSIAuPkwk). Request a copy of the ID, whichever is going to be used and have the contract signed at a friend's house, you'll need an eyewitness. It doesn't have to be at a lawyer's office, but the contract must be notarized. Make sure to NOT give loans, if it is a real emergency, have her sign a "recibo" for whatever amount of money and with the agreement that it will be taken off the next pay check. Lack of education is how maids have misconceptions regarding their working environment. If you are educated and better prepared, you have to be the better person. I can see Mark publishing the ISO of Maid Work in Guatemala pretty soon.

Guate Living : Maid #4 Plays Her Hand

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:05:33 +0000

Nancy, Good advice for Mark! Now, as in any country in the world, a lawyer, by definition, is not honorable. elgordo, Although I agree that the former maid is being vindictive and, obviously, trying to abuse the system, I'm sorry to tell you that Mark's former maid is not panza verde. Mark will confirm that for you. Also, Guatemala is a class divided society and lawyers will only take sides when being paid, and well.

Guate Living : A Delusional Trip to Havana

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:05:54 +0000

Sorry to read your story of deception with Dubya. The "Decider" screwed us all, no exceptions. Let's just laugh about: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/17/will-fer...

Guate Living : Hard to Find, Part 1

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:59:10 +0000

Mark, I been meaning to tell you, while in Antigua, I used to order my shoes, custom made, at Zapateria Galdamez. Last month, I stopped by and the place still exists. Zapato Galdamez 6a Avenita Norte No.20 Antigua Guatemala Celular : (502) 78325414 It's not cheap, but you'll have the assurance that those shoes are made for your feet. This place and business is one of the handful that still exist after the boom that took place in Antigua in the 90's and pretty much exiled almost half of the population and original business from town and is information not many gringos have, so make sure to take advantage of it. Let me know if it works for you. I still plan to take you some shoes and the lamp in my next trip down there. We'll keep in touch and good luck with those shoes.

Guate Living : A Random Parade of Sorts

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:51:20 +0000

You're right Trudy. It's not only by invitation, but by previous agreement since the whole "show" in a house can cost you around 500 GTQ. They're usually common previous to and during a procession.

Guate Living : A Random Parade of Sorts

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:46:34 +0000

Thank you Cristina. Originally, "Convites" have its roots in Spain and were women driven only, hence the masks. The aberration of using cartoon characters started developing in the 60's, but now the whole tradition is off, not a single "Convite" mask around. An original "Convite" mask can be seen here: http://www.masksoftheworld.com/Europe/Guatemala/G...

Guate Living : A Delusional Trip to Havana

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:14:36 +0000

Enlighten me, why would vote for Dubya the 1st time?

Guate Living : A Delusional Trip to Havana

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:51:31 +0000

Beautiful! Now Mark, how'd you call the banking system bailout in the US under Dubya, when if the same process is applied in Cuba is called Communism? The prison system in Guatemala is entirely another blog discussion, and if you wanna put it head to head over political terms, just in case you're not aware, there was no one single political prisoner in over 36 years of civil war in Guatemala. The number of prisons has to grow in Guatemala since the current system dates the 1950's, and not because the criminal activity is "stable" as I'm sure you're well aware.

Guate Living : Even More Content to Delight Readers

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:28:27 +0000

You created that acronym all by yourself Mark? I'm sure the "La Cuadra" team must be excited from the tons of traffic that will be coming their way from your site. BTW, I'll suggest you to start using Creative Commons rather than copy-writing material you're and will be "sharing" and "mixing" in your blog. Good luck in the new endeavor, I still hope some day the folks at "La Cuadra" will publish some of your material since I'm a firm believer that you need more than one point of view in order to analyze by yourself whatever topic at hand. Just make sure to follow their only rule: "If it doesn’t suck, we’ll put it up."

Guate Living : A Random Parade of Sorts

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:13:34 +0000

What a shame, I don't see a single "convite" mask around that "convite". But I guess is too much to ask, if now even the streets are renamed and "Calle Sucia" has become "Calle Susia"... In about 50 years "La Antigua" will be known either as "Old Town" or "Altstadt".

Guate Living : Most Notorious Blog in Guatemala

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 20:25:10 +0000

http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/guateliving.com Go to the keywords tab. Check that out, "Zacapa" is moving up in the ranking of terms to find your blog. Make sure to get some sort of arrangement with la Licorera Zacapaneca...

Guate Living : Forget the Hall of Shame; Let's Have A Boycott

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:47:37 +0000

The economy of boycotting, according to Mark. That will be the title of the book at the end. Dude, I think you've been assimilated into the small virtual world of la Antigua Guatemala. I mean, don't get me wrong, you need to be part of the local daily life - with or without maids - of what is now "la Antigua", but knowing that you're using the classic "I heard" rather than "I know", believe you me, a truly and without a doubt "antigüeño" you've become. You're changing the whole meaning of the good old saying from town: La Antigua Guatemala, Ciudad de las Rosas y de las viejas chismosas.

Guate Living : A Great Commercial

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 05:46:51 +0000

Check it out: http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/video-hand...

Guate Living : Honduras Should Win at the UN

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:37:32 +0000

The "JUNTA" has no way to force the UN or any other organization to recognize its dictatorship, much less to accept a laughable legal proceeding. Such a waist of time and resources, just what they want.

Guate Living : Tips for My Would-Be Assassins

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:23:32 +0000

Mark, I believe Gary Low in the 80's said it in a nice song better: "You Are A Danger"...here's the choir: You are danger, baby, you're a stranger Sensibility is out of reach You are danger, baby, you're a stranger But I like the way you can't be beat Just go about your life, trust me, if you're receiving threats and if they're coming from a local, you have nothing to worry about. By experience, I can assure you, Guatemalans do not send threats. I believe someone else already told you about who you might have pissed off in Antigua...probably a gringo with a business that has been bad-mouthed. Remember, wishful thinking is just another fallacy.

Guate Living : Yet Another Racist Comments on Hygiene

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:10:57 +0000

Cristina, And all this time I've been under the impression that Ayau Cordon, et al, founded UFM with the Chicago Boys in mind...the Ludwig von Mises Institute will probably agree with you at this point in time.