Q I plan on hiring someone as homehelp to look after my aging mother and, in general, to take care of the house and I would like to know if I have to pay her social security?

A Assuming you are the head of the family (cabeza de familia) and she will be working exclusively for you, you will be obliged to pay her social security. To this effect, exclusivity means here that the home-worker (empleado de hogar) is employed by just one person for a duration of at least 50 per cent of the normal working day for this sector. However, if the home-worker is not considered to be working exclusively with you (i.e. he/she is employed by you for a duration of less than 50 per cent of the normal working day), it will be the worker him/herself who will be obliged to satisfy the monthly social security payments. The worker will also be required to pay his/her social security while off work due to temporary incapacity (incapacidad temporal) and maternity.

For more information on these or other business or legal matters, please contact THOMAS LEACY, SPAINWIDE BUSINESS SERVICES, Tel/Fax: 91 547 1254 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for a personal interview.