The minimum wage of $2.30 is an issue that has been debated over and over again.

With the cost of living increasing dramatically, the fact the wages have remained the same has contributed to the hardship faced by many families in Samoa.

Tagaloa Sae, from the village of Falelauniu, believes the government should consider revisiting the wages.

He believes the more money people are able to get, the happier their lives will be. He also says that it doesn’t help having the cost of living increasing with peoples pay remaining the same.

“The only problem is that we can’t generate enough money to cover a lot of our everyday activities,” Tagaloa told the Village Voice.

“We have things to pay such as the land we are currently living on. Store-bought goods are becoming more and more expensive and that increases the cost of living which is already pretty high.”

“It’s just my wife and I with our children who are currently schooling. We don’t make enough money and it’s very tough.”

Tagaloa explained that the government should start prioritizing it’s people and finding ways to make their lives a little easier.

“The government should prioritize its people,” he said.

“One thing they should look at is to make our lives a little more affordable. 

The lands people live on shouldn’t be hard to come by which is the issue many in Samoa face right now.”

“I guess those issues have a lot to do with money and it’s not easy to come by.”

Tagaloa expressed that it is very important that we should revisit Samoa’s minimum wage because people cannot continue to work for peanuts.

“Other than what I just said, life is pretty okay right now,” he said. “But we really need to look into the wages people are getting. The way we are living right now is almost like overseas countries. We have to pay all sorts of bills now and on top of that, we have to pay our children’s schooling expenses.”

“It’s not easy at all and I know the solution to this problem is to revisit the wage rates we are giving to our people.”

“If we increased our wage rates then it will help so many people with the way they are currently living.”

With only one person in the family currently employed, Tagaloa says it’s not easy but they do their best anyway.

“We have been living in this village for two years and I am originally from Savaii,” he said.

“My wife is currently employed as a teacher and that’s all the money our family has to live on. 

Some of my children have their own families now and when they come and help us out sometimes then we are grateful.”

“That’s the only problem we are facing and apart from that, the life God has blessed us with is great.”