if you are hiring a maid be sure to follow the rules about her social security - dont get cheap and try to skirt around the issue of salary and social security and liquidations.
employees are gaining more power all the time in ecuador - they can file a complaint on you very easily which could keep you from leaving the country. i know of one case right now where there is a 50000 dollar claim against the employer of a maid. buyer beware latinamericacurrentevents.com