Wages need to match the cost of living

By Ilia L. Likou 05 June 2017, 12:00AM

Wages need to keep up with the cost of living. At the moment, the cost of living is far ahead of the minimum wage.

John Lemalie from the village of Malie believes this an issue that should be looked into.

He said most people cannot afford basic living with their wages, especially people getting paid the $2.30minimum wage.

 “The truth now is that many can’t afford to live off their wages especially when we look at the high cost of living we are facing everyday,” he said.

He understands that is why many families are buying on credit.

“There is no doubt that this is what helps most families to survive living off a credit account from a shop nearby.

“I mean the cost of living is getting too high for many of the villagers here in our country.

“I have noticed prices for some everyday goods being raised to the point where it’s hard to get, it’s hard because people in Samoa don’t get paid well enough to afford many things.”

Away from the cost of living, Joh said God has blessed Samoa with food and many other resources.

“Yes we all know that our land and environment was given to us by God and we need to work the land and make good use of it,” he said. 

“Food is enough but money is always the problem nowadays.

“What I’m trying to say is how our people struggle in life because of low wages, the cost of goods and services is sky high and pays are not enough.”

He said this is the reality that many families are facing.

“The fact is, many families do not earn enough money to raise their family especially when there are children that needs to be in school everyday, family fa’alavelave...it’s just too hard to cope with it.

“Personally there is poverty in Samoa but as I’ve mentioned earlier the Lord has blessed our country with food but money is always the problem.

He understands that purchasing things on credit is nothing new in Samoa, but the situation is only going to get worse with goods becoming more and more unaffordable.

“That is how we see it today, and that’s the reality in Samoa nowadays.”

He believes that decreasing prices on everyday goods and a pay rise will help.

“The government should look and visit to see how much we need help from day to day and most importantly to decrease the prices they put on goods.”

By Ilia L. Likou 05 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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