The popular ‘Women of Monaco Lunch’ returns for its 10th edition on 1st October at the elegant Hotel Métropole de Monte-Carlo, this time under the theme of ‘blue’.
Organised by Five Stars Events and supported by Barclays Private Bank, this exclusive gathering will bring together members of the ‘Women of Monaco Club’, a group of influential women from Monaco’s international community, to celebrate empowerment, fashion, and philanthropy.
The event, an idea by Sandrine Knoell, will feature a vibrant blue theme and host an empowering fashion show by Donata Davidoff. Her collection promises to highlight the strength and potential of women through fashion, while Juliet Agnew, Head of Philanthropy at Barclays Private Bank, will say a few words with a special focus on ‘Women & Philanthropy’.
Proceeds will go towards the Fondation Princesse Grace. The event is supported by SEGRAETI Monte-Carlo, known for its luxury interior design, and partnered with prominent media outlets Monaco Life, Luxury Magazine, and Stylezza.
For reservations, contact Five Stars Events at +377 97 70 78 75 or via email at events@5starsevents.com.
Isabella Vieira, a documentary filmmaker from Brazil has unveiled her latest project, Nawa Sia – The Secrets of the Amazon, at an exclusive ‘first look’ event in Monaco. The film, which explores the daily lives of the Huni Kuin people, their connection to the Amazon and the challenges they face today, has received the support of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and the Brasil Monaco Project.
On Tuesday 10th September, Brazilian filmmaker Isabella Vieira hosted a special preview event for her upcoming documentary, Nawa Sia – The Secrets of the Amazon, at Le Méridien Beach Plaza. Monaco Life’s Niki Borisova attended the project showcase and spoke with the Vieira and her collaborators about her goals for the film, which will premiere in the Principality upon its release next year.
“I wanted to create something that would establish a connection between humans and nature; this is why I made this project into an immersive experience where the viewer connects within,” Vieira, who has ancestral ties to the Amazon region, told Monaco Life.
Her film centres on the Huni Kuin, an Indigenous community from the Amazon rainforest, and delves into their deep-rooted connection to the forest and reliance on traditional medicinal practices. She explores the role of the shaman, who serves as both healer and keeper of the tribe’s ancestral wisdom, seeking to document the survival of these practices in the modern world and raise awareness of the challenges these communities face due to environmental destruction and cultural erosion.
One of the shaman portrayed in the film travelled to the Principality with Vieira and appeared at the event.
“I want to speak about my land, where I come from, my forest, and our earth. We must fight for our forest, as we cannot survive without it,” he shared with Monaco Life via an interpreter.
Presentation of ‘Nawa Sia, Les Secrets de l’Amazonie’. Photo by Monaco Life
In addition to covering the cultural and spiritual practices of the Huni Kuin, Nawa Sia has also been designed to offer a sensory experience. Vieira has incorporated unique elements, such as sound frequencies recorded at 432 Hz, a frequency some associate with the earth’s natural rhythms, and aromatherapy linked to the scents of the Amazon rainforest. These sensory features are intended to immerse viewers beyond the visual narrative, offering a multi-layered experience to prompt deeper reflection on the human relationship with nature.
Guilherme Haguenauer, Forests and Communities Initiative Manager at the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, who also attended the presentation, stated, “This film is a beautiful invitation to discover the Amazon, and we are very proud to be a part of such a project.”
Meanwhile, Luciana de Montigny, the founder of the Brasil Monaco Project, added, “We must protect the forest; if we continue to destroy the Amazon, future generations will suffer. This film conveys a beautiful message to inspire people, and that’s why we are honoured to be partners in this project.”
The film is currently in post-production . Nawa Sia is set to debut in Monaco in 2025.
Employing household staff in Monaco can be a straightforward process when adhering to the Principality’s labour laws, but there are several important factors to consider.
Sophie Marquet, a founding partner at CMS Monaco and head of the Employment team, is highly regarded for her expertise in employment law. With around 20 years’ experience, she provides employers with litigation and strategic advice on all matters relating to handling labour relations..
In this Q&A, Sophie shares her expertise on the key steps, legal requirements, and potential pitfalls in the hiring process of domestic staff in Monaco, helping employers ensure compliance while establishing effective working relationships.
Sophie Marquet
Monaco Life: Let’s start with the basics. What constitutes an ‘employer of household staff’ and who qualifies as ‘household staff’?
Sophie Marquet: An ‘employer of household staff’ is any private individual who wishes to have someone work in their home to carry out domestic or household tasks, such as cleaning, ironing, childcare, or even sick care. Essentially, any person can be considered an employer if they hire a salaried worker for tasks in the home, even if this work represents just one hour a week or month.
The roles that qualify as household staff are strictly defined by the Monegasque Social Security Funds. They include housekeepers, chauffeurs, cooks, domestic servants, chambermaids, bodyguards, nursemaids, governesses, gardeners, valets, and several others. It’s important to note that personal assistants, private accountants, and building janitors, for example, do not fall under this category and are subject to different employment regulations.
How straightforward is the process of hiring household staff in Monaco?
The process of hiring household staff in Monaco requires employers to register with the Monegasque Social Security Funds to obtain an employer registration number. This registration is mandatory and applies to both Monegasque nationals and residents with a valid residence permit. Once registered, the process is simplified compared to hiring in other sectors, as employers do not need to submit job offers or comply with priority candidates from the Employment Service.
Employers are free to choose their staff, provided the candidate resides in the Alpes-Maritimes or Italy, and, for non-EU nationals, has the necessary residence permit. If the worker lacks a valid permit, it is nearly impossible to regularise their employment.
What are the overall expenses associated with employing household workers in Monaco?
Employers must adhere to the legal minimum gross hourly rate, currently set at €11.65 as of January 2024. In addition to this, a 5% bonus must be added, which is not subject to social security contributions. Employer contributions, approximately 35% of the gross salary, must also be paid. For full-time employees working overtime, the first eight hours of overtime must be compensated with a 25% increase, followed by a 50% increase for any additional hours.
While there are no obligations to provide additional health insurance or benefits, employers are responsible for paying contributions to the Monegasque social security system.
Are there any exceptions or reductions in social security contributions?
Yes, there are some exceptions. Employers with one or two household employees working fewer than 254 hours per month benefit from a reduced contribution base of 33% of the gross salary. The same reduction applies when employing a caretaker or home help for medical reasons. In other cases, the contributions are calculated based on the full declared salary, up to a certain limit.
Employing house staff in Monaco is a straight forward process, but there are important legal obvlications people need to know. Photo source: Unsplash
What legal obligations do employers have towards their employees and Monegasque authorities?
Employers must provide their staff with work in line with their employment contract and pay their salary on time, accompanied by a pay slip. They must also respect working hours, offer one day of rest per week, and allow for paid leave. Social security contributions must be paid within 10 days of receiving the call for contributions from the Monegasque Social Security Funds.
If employers wish to dismiss an employee, they must follow a procedure that includes several preparatory steps. This involves notifying the employee in writing, conducting a pre-dismissal interview, and spacing these actions over several days to avoid sanctions for immediate or verbal dismissals. Additionally, employers must serve the employee with notice and pay termination benefits if applicable.
How can employers handle disputes or disagreements that may arise with household staff in Monaco?
Disputes between employers and employees are handled by Monaco’s Labour Court, which requires a preliminary conciliation procedure to encourage settlement before litigation. Alternatively, disputes can be resolved amicably through a lawyer, which guarantees confidentiality during negotiations.
Are employers required to provide accommodation for household staff?
There is no legal obligation to provide accommodation. However, offering housing can simplify the visa or residence permit process for foreign employees and facilitate their work, especially in roles like nannies or carers for the elderly. If housing is provided, it must be declared on the pay slip and is subject to social security contributions.
It is crucial to establish a clear contract for such arrangements, as housing should not create permanent residential rights for the employee.
What happens if a household staff member falls ill?
If an employee falls ill, they must notify their employer and provide a medical certificate within 48 hours. The employer is then responsible for filing the necessary forms with the social security office. For absences longer than 15 days, this process must be repeated every 15 days. Employees with more than two years of service are entitled to continued pay during their illness, with rates and durations dependent on their length of employment.
Employers cannot permanently replace staff on sick leave unless the absence exceeds six months. Moreover, dismissing an employee on sick leave is prohibited unless there are specific disciplinary or economic reasons.
Can household staff be employed at a second home in France or onboard a yacht?
Employing household staff in France, such as at a second home, requires special consideration. If the work is occasional, a secondment procedure is advised. For more permanent roles, employers can either offer two part-time contracts or hire the employee under French law with proper social security arrangements.
As for employing staff on a yacht, this is more complex. Yacht personnel fall under a different legal category, that of seafarers, and cannot be replaced by household staff while the vessel is in navigation. Even occasional work on board while docked can pose legal and insurance risks, so it is generally discouraged.
What advice would you offer to individuals looking to hire household staff in Monaco?
I strongly recommend signing an employment contract that includes protective clauses for the employer, such as confidentiality and exclusivity. It’s also essential to ensure employees have valid residence permits and visas from the start, as it is very difficult to regularise undocumented workers later. Keeping accurate records of working hours and adhering to employment law is crucial to avoid potential legal and financial repercussions.
Monaco-based Chef Yannick Alléno and French artist JR have teamed up for a powerful and poignant project: a large-scale photo collage featuring nearly 3,000 portraits of families who have lost loved ones to dangerous and reckless driving incidents. The goal of Inside Out is to raise awareness and offer a visual tribute to those grieving tragic losses.
In May 2022, Michelin-starred Chef Yannick Alléno’s son, Antoine, was tragically killed by an unlicensed driver under the influence of alcohol in a stolen vehicle. This devastating event led the Pavyllon chef to found a charity in his son’s honour, the Association Antoine Alléno, which offers support to the loved ones of young victims.
The association is now expanding its reach through a partnership with French “urban artivist” JR, joining his Inside Out project.
JR’s Inside Out is a global platform that empowers communities to stand up for their beliefs and spark change from a grassroots level. The initiative typically involves large-scale collections of portraits from community members, which are displayed in public spaces.
In support of this project, on 13th September, people who have lost a loved one in circumstances similar to the Allénos are invited to the Hôtel de Ville in Nice between 10am and 5pm to be photographed. A similar photocall will take place in Lyon two days earlier.
A display on the Pont d’Alma
Alléno and JR aim to collect nearly 3,000 photos in total, which will eventually be assembled into a massive collage to be displayed on the Pont d’Alma in Paris. The bridge, famously associated with the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in a car accident in August 1997, is chosen for its symbolic location, though the organisers say this is coincidental.
Through Inside Out, the relatives and friends of road victims who are “trying to rebuild themselves and relearn how to breathe” are given the opportunity to be seen by a wider audience and pay tribute to their lost loved ones.
The Ferretti Group, the luxury yacht builder and brokerage conglomerate, recently held its annual Private Preview event at the Yacht Club de Monaco. The glamourous evening, which serves as a showcase of the group’s latest and greatest creations, was headlined by British music legend Robbie Williams.
Ahead of the Monaco Yacht Show later this month, the Ferretti Group offered key stakeholders an exclusive insight into its new range of luxury vessels at its annual Private Preview at the Yacht Club de Monaco on 7th September.
Guests were treated to onboard visits and sea trials of seven world-premiere boats, among them the Custom Line Navetta 38, Pershing GTX80, Ferretti Yachts Infynito 80 and the Riva El-Iseo, the brand’s first fully electric powerboat.
They also enjoyed an elegant dinner prepared by Michelin-starred chef Antonio Mellino of the Amalfi Coast restaurant Quattro Passi di Nerano, and were gifted an array of luxury souvenirs of the evening by the partners of the event, a prestigious list of brands including the likes of Range Rover, Bang & Olufsen and Dolce & Gabbana.
Prince Albert II of Monaco was among those who turned out for the industry event, alongside Formula 1’s Charles Leclerc and Nico Rosberg, and Domenico Dolce of Dolce & Gabbana.
Later in the evening, top-selling solo artist Robbie Williams took to a purpose-built stage that was suspended above the water of Port Hercule to perform for the VIP crowd of over 600 guests, who packed out every deck and balcony of the iconic building.
“A big thank you to Robbie Williams for the style and extraordinary talent with which he won the hearts of our guests and friends,” said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi after the show. “He entertains his audience with incredible joy and generosity… perfectly in tune with the passion Ferretti Group brings to the creation of ever-more beautiful dream boats.”
Representatives from the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs were welcomed to the Principality earlier this month for a series of meetings with their Monaco counterparts. The purpose of the visit was to discuss a project entitled ‘Space Law for New Space Actors’, with the aim of enhancing the understanding of state responsibilities under existing international law in this area.
During the visit, which took place between 4th and 6th September, the delegation from the Vienna-based United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs was received by several of high-ranking Monaco officials and official bodies, including: the Interministerial Delegation Responsible for the Digital Transition, which is led by Frédéric Genta; Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; Isabelle Rosabrunetto, the Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation; and Ambassador Lorenzo Ravano, Monaco’s Representative to the United Nations Office in Vienna.
The goal of the working visit was to discuss space law, at both a national and international level, as well as pertinent themes surrounding the final frontier in the context of the Principality. The discussions focused on what Monaco needs to do to become more knowledgeable about space law and its potential agreement to the main international treaties on outer space.
The importance of establishing clear legal frameworks that align with existing international law to ensure the prosperity of the national space sector was also highlighted.
Following the visit, the Monaco Government reaffirmed its ambition to initiate the adoption of national legislation to regulate the public and private space industry conducted on Monegasque soil.
