Pais worked as a financial analyst for the
KPN from July 1958 until April 1974. Pais served on the
Municipal Council of Amsterdam from September 1958 until December 1961 and served on the
Provincial-Council of
North Holland from June 1970 until July 1970. Pais worked as a professor of
Public economics at the
University of Amsterdam from April 1974 until 19 December 1977 Pais was elected as a
Member of the Senate after the
Senate election of 1977, taking office on 20 September 1977 serving as a
frontbencher and
spokesperson for
Finances. After the
election of 1977 Pais was appointed as
Minister of Education and Sciences in the
Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel, taking office on 19 December 1977. In January 1981 Pais announced that he wouldn't stand for the
election of 1981 but wanted to return to the Senate. After the
Senate election of 1981 Pais returned as a Member of the Senate, taking office on 25 August 1981. The Cabinet Van Agt-Wiegel was replaced by the
Cabinet Van Agt II following the
cabinet formation of 1981 on 11 September 1981 and he continued to serve in the Senate serving a frontbencher chairing the parliamentary committee for Finances and spokesperson for Finances. ==Personal life==