Father calls for increase in wages to cushion cost of living

By Aruna Lolani 23 August 2017, 12:00AM

Since the cost of living has increased, the government should also consider raising the local wages.

So says Samasoni Tafaoialii of Saoluafata, who thinks this is another way to make life easier for the people of Samoa.

Speaking to the Village Voice team, the 38-year-old said the cost of living is way too much.

“You know, I just think that everything has to be balanced because this is not for other countries’ betterment; this is to ease things up for our own people,” he said.

“In our situation, I personally think it’s a fair deal to increase every employee’s wages or salaries everytime the cost of living is raised.

“The reality is while others are doing okay with their income, the rest of us are still stuck with smaller rates. This should be an idea that should be applied to every job because nothing comes easy nowadays.”

Samasoni said people have children to think about.

“We have to think of their education. How can we talk about the children as the future of Samoa if some families cannot afford to put them in school?”

The 38-year-old is the only one who works in the family. He and his wife have five children.

“Sometimes it feels hard to try and earn a living but we still try to because without money, we can’t provide our families with what they need.

“That’s why I try my best with every contract I get.

“And when I’m on break from that job, I try my best to find myself side jobs to make use of time and earn more money because no one is going to support my family financially, but me.”

Samasoni also said sometimes a few families come to him and offer him short term jobs just so he can have something to depend on while waiting for his contract job to call in again.

“The cost of living is a problem for me and it’s not getting any better, but other than that, everything is fine on our side.”

By Aruna Lolani 23 August 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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