Filipino wage rate: Is it worth enough?

After your seemingly unending studious way of living that consumes eighteen years of your existence. The real battle of life will begin. All the knowledge, wisdom and experiences you have gained will finally be put to practice. You are so excited to make money because you know you can buy anything you want after payday. However, what if your salary is not enough?

Although I am not working and experiencing the life of tax payer yet. I am sure to what I know from observation from my parents and relatives salary. Most of their salaries are just enough to pay bills, monthly allowances, and grocery. They can't even have a portion to save money since it is not enough. Thus, sometimes it leads to borrow money which usually takes a long time to pay.

Your salary is not just an ordinary one. It is your hard-earned money that you worked so hard for so many hours. That's why it has much value than any money you have.

Filipino Minimum Wage Rate (Cavite rate vs Manila rate)

I am living in Cavite which you can found in Region IV-A CALABARZON. There are a lot of historical and tourist destinations you can visit. Aside from that, we have Cavite Economic Zone. Cavite Economic Zone also known as Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), but sometimes we Caviteño called it as EPZA. There's no history on it though.

PEZA is one of the largest producer of workers in the country. It has a total of 408 ecozones, 4, 542 companies, and an overwhelming 1.6 million workers. One of the top investment promotion agencies in the country that contributes the biggest export income to the national government. Additionally, Cavite Economic Zone has 275 hectares or 2,750,000 square meters.

However, these data does not change the fact the Cavite minimum wage rate increase. Cavite rate particularly in Rosario and General Trias only have a minimum wage rate of ₱373.00 ($7.09). While, the new minimum wage rate in Manila is ₱537.00 ($10.21).

Can you look at the data once again? The huge difference between Cavite and Manila rate is still far from each other. Even though Cavite has PEZA, I think it will be sufficient enough to increase the minimum wage rate at least to ₱500.00 ($10). I have heard to some politicians running in my province that they are already studying and planning to increase it. However, the problem is that they did talked and announced the same thing last campaign way back May 13, 2019.

How much my parents earned everyday? (Monthly salary of ordinary Filipino family)

To set an example, my mother is working in one of the 4,542 companies in PEZA. Her current minimum wage rate from where she started at ₱373.00 to ₱406.00 now. If I will compute her salary per month, except those she have rest days and unexpected some absences. She can earned up to ₱8844.00 ($168.21) per month. This does work include the taxes and additional cuts in her salary.

On the other hand, my father is working as public driver. He can earned up to ₱800-1,000.00 a day. Of course, as driver he doesn't have any taxes to pay. If I will summarize my father's monthly salary it will be about ₱20,000.00 ($380.39) as per the current currency of Php to USD.

To sum it up, my parents can earned up to ₱29,000 ($551.57) per month. If you compare my mother's monthly salary to my father. There is a huge difference. That's my point, if you are working as machine operator in PEZA, you can earn the same as my mother. If you are working in office, you can earn a little bit higher than my mother. My whole point is that the current minimum wage rate in Cavite is NOT enough to provide needs of a family.

The unending cycle of debt

If you are living and working in Cavite, then you will realize the importance of minimum wage rate. I believe some of the Caviteño prefer to work in Manila since they can earn higher than our province. But the problem lies to transportation fees. As you know, our transportation fees increase in the past two years. Lucky enough to those BPO employees who worked at home.

Since the basic minimum wage rate of Caviteño is low and it is not truly sufficient. The end of it lies to borrow and borrow money to make their finances fit for the whole family. This scenario is very evident if you look closely to your neighbour. I think for the number one sources of Filipino lenders is what we call Bumbay or Indian money lenders. I know every Filipino knew them so I will discuss it furthermore.

Minimum wage rate vs Product prices

The very basic needs and food products fluctuate again. I felt this since I was the one who grocery for my family. I went to the local market to grocery twice a month and I really choose a products which has the same quality but bit lower in price. I have to make sure that our budget still fit and I can assure that all of our basic needs are provided.

However, as my parents salary became stable but the product prices went up. Now, if we feel our budget was really tight. What more to those families who earned just really enough. The bills are getting piled up as well and the gas prices went up too. If you noticed, your salary is almost equal to the family's bills and purchases.

All I hope for the better of our family's finances and to increase the minimum wage rate here in Cavite. I bet in the next 10-20 years, if the prices continually increasing but the minimum wage rate is left behind. I think it will be so hard for Filipino families to provide everything needed of the family. That is the reason why we should elect a new and wise leaders who can bring EVERY FILIPINO FAMILY whether rich, moderate, or poor for the better.

Thank you for reading!