Minimum Wage In The Philippines 2011
The minimum wage in the Philippines is set in each region. Thus the minimum wage in the Philippines varies a great deal based on where one lives. The minimum wage in the Philippines is quite low and it is set by the day rather than the hour. When the minimum wage rate is increased it is increased by the amount paid each day.
- Department of Labor and Employment — Information Purposes Only
The low minimum wage in the Philippines is a major reason why outsourcing work to the Philippines is appealing to many companies both small and large. If I had the cash or an in place client base, I would setup such a company in the Philippines. By hiring 10 Filipino you would meet the major requirement for a Special Visa For Employment Generation (SVEG).
Increases sought in the Philippines Minimum Wage
Starting in March of 2011, I began to notice a lot of labor groups holding press conferences demanding increases in the minimum wage for the Philippines. In April these calls increases. There were demonstrations in parts of the country. Mostly these demonstrations took place in the Manila area. With inflation on the rise at around an expect 4.5% for the year, the groups vocal. Even militant groups joined in the demonstrations burning an effigy of President Aquino’ s Porsche.
Groups in the National Capital Region (NCR) demanded an increase of P122 ($2.83) a day some groups asked for more.
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines issued a warning during the debates. They warned of inflationary pressures and urged wage board to keep any increases in the minimum wage in the Philippines below P25 per day.
Minimum Wage In The Philippines Increases
May is the month that wage hikes usually come. The wage boards in each region meet to issue an order for an increase in the minimum wage in the Philippines.
So far, I’ve seen two regions announce their increases. Those are the NCR and Eastern Visayas:
- NCR — National Capital Region: Granted a minimum wage increase of P22 per day.
- CAR – Cordillera Administrative Region grants a minimum wage increase of P12 per day.
- Region I Ilocos — grants a minimum wage increase of P18
- Region II Cagayan Vally — Minimum wage in the Philippines for Region II is P10
- Region III Central Luzon — Increase of P14 per day for the minimum page in Central Luzon
- Region IV A CALABARZON – Increase of P17
- Eastern Visayas — Granted a minimum wage increase of P23 per day
- Central Visayas — Expected to increase the minimum wages but caught up in legal red tape
- Northern Mindanao — Minimum Wage Increased by P17 per day.
- Central Mindanao — No Minimum Wage Increase for 2011
- Western Visayas — Increase of P12 for the minimum wage in the Philippines for Bacolod and Negros Occidental. This increase is for three months only.
The wage board in the Central Visayas says it met today. I will add all other increases in the minimum wage within the Philippines as they are released.
Rate of Minimum Wage In The Philippines by Region
The minimum by region will be monitored and added to this list as each board releases its new minimum wage for that region in 2011.
- NCR — P426 Set May 2011
- CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) – P272 minimum wage per day set January 11 2011
- Region I Ilocos — P248 Philippines minimum wage set January 20th 2011
- Region II, Cagayan Valley — P245 granted daily minimum wage in the Philippines of P245
- Region III Central Luzon — P330 June 1, 2011
- Region IV A CALABARZON — P232 January 15, 2011
- Region IV B MIMAROPA – P664 November 2010
- Region V Bicol – P247
- Region VI Eastern Visayas – P253 May 2011
- Region VII Central Visayas — TBD
- Region VIII Western Visayas – P277
- Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula — P255, September 2010
- Region X, Northern Mindanao – PP286 Set July 2011
- Region XI, Davao Region — Minimum wage in the Philippines for Davao P286 set 9/2010
- Region XII Central Mindanao — P260 Set October 2010
- Region XIII Caraga — P232 set August 2010
- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao – P222 minimum wage in the Philippines set August 2010
I will continue to monitor the announcements. As more wage boards release their increases to the minium wage in the Philippines, I will update this article with the new information.
The low wages for Filipino are a burden for many but jobs are still hard to come by in most parts of the Philippines. The low minimum wage in the Philippines and the low land cost are primary reasons for keeping the cost of living low in the Philippines. The low labor cost in the Philippines is set in each region. The low minimum wage in the Philippines makes it easier for Americans and other Westerners to live in the Philippines during their retirement. It also brings industry from around the world and is major reason for economic growth in the Philippines. The growth factor is likely the main factor that is considered by law makers. It is rightly based on what is best for the Philippines. My guess is, once more Filipino are working, the market will become on favoring labor and the minimum wage in the Philippines will begin to rise sharply. With widespread unemployment, the minimum wage in the Philippines is likely to remain low for some time to come.
You can find more articles about minimum wage in the Philippines here.
Tagged with: Cost of Living in The Philippines • Department of Labor and Employment • Expats Living in The Philippines • Minimum Wage In The Philippines • Minimum Wage in the Philippines 2010
Filed under: Cost of living in the Philippines • Expats in the Philippines • Living In The Philippines
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!
Get
To The Philippines Faster
Interesting article, Rusty. Opened my eyes to the minimum wage issue in the Philippines.
Thanks Henry, if you mean that it is very low, yes it is.
I’d say they way to make it better really sets up a win win situation. Offering jobs in the Philippines can save a company money and at the same time, increase demand of Filipino workers. Eventually, that will lead to hirer wages.
I’m still watching, haven’t seen anything on the minimum wage increase for Central Visayas. Only those places listed above so far.
There is a bit of a riff going on between Saudi Arabia and the RP over overseas Filipino workers serving as maids in Saudi. The Philippines is insisting on $400 per month. That really doesn’t seem like to much to ask to me.
Awww, I just read that the Central Visaya’s is having some matters of law to resolve before they grant an expected increase.
Yeah the low pay rate for employee’s is great for forigners if you are strarting your own business cause the initial caosts are low and you would be able to start making a profit much faster. I just don’t know how someone could feel good about themselves for paying such a low rate thou. If I were to start or run a business overthere I would like to do some sort of bonus to the pay based on % of business profit. Even a tiny amount goes a long way, and when u genuinly care about your employee’s thier productivity and ideas will definitly suppliment the profit well.
I understand the guilty feeling, I really do.
These are the facts, these low wages are exactly what makes the Philippines cheaper to live in.
I feel some guilt over that but what am I going to do? Go back to the states? That’s not going to do me any good, not going to do Filipino any good.
Pay the going rate, treat people well and spend your money in the Philippines. That’s really all most of us can do. That too helps.
I don’t fully understand it, in fact, I had planned on researching it today. There is something here called the 13th month bonus to do with employers and employees. I was reading about minimum wage in the Philippines today and I saw on wage board talking about how many employers were able to pay more and were even giving 14th month bonuses.
I think the 13th month is required. I’m going to go research it now. Since I can’t work here, I’ve not had a lot of reason to dig deep into labor law and it requires deep. Labor laws here are complex.
Dang hard to fire someone. You can’t fire someone on the spot, you have to give them notice. I THINK it is 30 days and they can file for an appeal with a government labor organization.
That’s why a lot of places hire on a temporary contract bases.
I don’t know, if you started paying too much, you might just draw fire from competing businesses that do not wish to pay the same.
But I do understand, I’m feeling a bit guilty now. I struggled with it a lot when I first got here. I still do some. I’d like to pay my ya ya (maid) more but I’m often out of cash at the end of the month. So….
I really have no clue about 13th and 14th month, but I love to speculate so here goes… In the states it’s common to measure business perfomance and time by weeks. 4 weeks = 1 month not a calander month. So there is always 13 business months or periods in a year. I would further speculate that a 14th month could be a holiday or year end bonus. Thoughts?? Any Pinoy out there who have knowledge of this?
Nope, there is a required bonus under Filipino law. Well it is not a bonus. In fact, giving of a bonus does not remove the requirement to pay the 13th month bonus. I’m glad you spoke up because I forgot to research it last night.
I always have so much going on, so many windows open on my PC that I often get distracted.
Here is part of what I found:
I asked a filipina who has a cafe and she says it is only mandatory for large business. But in her store she just gives them christmas bonus’s.
She also gave me this link for more info Http://businessaccent.com/2009/10/04/how-to-compute-13th-month-pay-dole-philippines/
Rusty, hi! You got a nice site here. Although late I just want to clarify that mandatory for companies with 10 employees and more are just:
1. 13th month pay
2. SSS, PhilHealth and Pag-ibig.
3. Retirement is required by law but most companies ignore it- even medium sized ones. However, if an employee will sue the company will have to pay including damages.
4. Separation pay of half month per year of service when an employee has served for 5 years. Companies with weak financial standing is allowed to pay lesser. Many companies create their own policies and follow that instead. A few big companies don’t pay until the employee has worked for 10 years! Again, if the employee goes to court he can make a good dime off the company.
5. Sick leave and vacation leave of 5days after the employee has become regular on the 6th month. In practice, most employers give this 1 year after regularization.
Unused sick leave is convertible to cash, vacation leaves gets invalidated if not used within the year. It does not get carried over.
Thanks Irma, that’s awesome information!!!
I know these requirements are out there but I didn’t know the exact requirements.
I get a lot of people searching for 14th month pay requirements but that is not required at all right?
And if a female employee gives birth she gets 2 months off paid for by SSS. Fathers has 7 days paid for by SSS to support the wife for each child up to the 4th child.
There is a new law now but still being contested by big companies. The law requires that companies pay female employees that undergo gynocological-related surgeries 2 months of the salary, NOT SSS. SSS will only come in after the 2 months from employers are used up. Companies are up in arms on this. This just came out last Nov 2011.
I had an unmarried neighbor become pregnant. She was working for Gaisano’s. Other employees were engaged in heavy Tsismis and she soon lost her job.
I forgot the exact formal reason for loosing it but it sure looked kind of suspicious.
You’re right there Rusty. Any bonus beyond the 13th month pay is company/employer discretion. Some big companies pay 14th month bonus, others up to 18 or 21 months. But these are their way of sharing the profits with the employees. It is never documented as the employer can opt to take it out anytime financial performance is not good. And it is not based on individual performance of employees, it is given to all based on their salaries. So those who are paid more get more. Any company/employer who does not want to share their profits beyond the 13th month pay is not obligated.
So there is a certain way to calculate it if a company offers it? Seems they could compute it any way they like or is this the customer way of doing it.
I don’t know exactly how the 13th month pay is calculated but a LOT of people are searching for that so it would be helpful if you explained how or maybe you did already and I just forgot. I really appreciate the valuable information you’re providing to readers. I may put it all together and write an story about it so it will be more likely to be found. Or if you WANT too you could write a story and I’ll publish it under your name. Only if you would like to. Thanks again, awesome information.
Some companies have explicit rules on morality. A good number does not allow a boyfriend or girlfriend to work together. And mostly, especially in local companies, they would not tolerate “immoral” acts like having cohabitation outside or marriage. Being pregnant is proof of the cohabitation. However, many more do not have any written policy but they would fire an employee if there is a scandal,like this case where she got pregnant out of wedlock. However, many companies now are more tolerant and co-workers more understanding. They do not make an issue out of it and even convince management to sympathize. So it all depends on the company policy, and in the absence of that, to the organizational culture. Your neighbor is just unlucky she is not in a supportive environment.
That’s a little hard for me to endorse but that’s okay, no one asked me. This isn’t my land.
Well it is a way as I consider it home but I’m still a visitor. I’m really commenting on different cultures. This wouldn’t be seen as immoral in the USA by MOST in these age. It is by some. It comes natural to me that I don’t usually judge the morals of others until they are harming someone. When I catch myself doing it, I try to stop myself. But that’s just me, and I can accept others are different. Partly its the culture but I take even the USA culture to a different level on this. I’m very accepting of others and what some might consider faults. My two weaknesses are lies and hypocrisy. Those I judge but I probably shouldn’t. 
now there are some I judge and should. I was looking at a couple of angelic little girls over the last couple of days and I love to interact with them. How anyone could harm one of these angels is beyond me.
This poor girl had it worse than what I said really and it goes on too often. Some would say she had it coming. I wouldn’t. I chalk it up mostly to youth but it was a bit stupid. hey, I was stupid last week too and I don’t have youth as an excuse.
This girl was dating a married man, she knew it. What did she think was going to happen? She doesn’t live near me any more. Instead of having what most here would consider a good job with potential, now she’s back in Southern Cebu, likely without a job still, no papa to support the baby, and saying he ruined her life. You know this is sad and it goes on way too much. Note to Filipina, if the man will cheat on his wife, he will cheat on you and probably leave you high and dry when things don’t go well. Filipinas dang it wait for the right one.
I watched a beautiful, really sexy 17 year old Filipina through her life away. Now she’s got an infant and her “husband” is in jail on charges of rape. I know she’s got problems, a mother that’s probably a bit crazy and she felt unloved and she wanted so much to be loved and maybe she is but by a guy that has been in jail before for theft and now for raping a minor. She didn’t have much of a chance though, no English at all, can’t even chat online with foreigners if she wanted too and I don’t know if she wanted to. She was beautiful enough to get any man she wanted if she had waited another year, till she was of legal age. One that could take her out of poverty but now? She’s so sad and she’s so thin she’s not even pretty any more, just a year later.
Rusty,
That is a nice invitation to write about those different labor requirements here in the Phils and have it published under my name. I would be happy to do that. Give me a little time to put things together. I guess I better cut into different topics so there is clear explanation and focus. I would be glad to be a contributor for your site
It is my contribution for you and your foreign readers who are investing and spending here in the Phils.
Regarding the “morality” issue in the workplace I also do not subscribe to it. The explanation given is a simple description of what takes place. But there is more tolerance now.
Indeed it is unfortunate that some Filipina girls are not properly advised how to live better. I am not sure what we can do for them.
I really appreciate your empathy and consideration for our people.
Irma, I look forward to see what you come up with. Please let me know. It will be educational for me too.
Hi, can I share with you guys my comments on this topic? Here’s some real (so to speak…) facts about bonuses and 13th month pay…If you’re the employer, You need to:
1. Pay your employees 13th month pay (its mandatory especially for large business entity) – usually given during December, equivalent to a one month gross salary. Real Scenario: some companies dont pay their workers this thing. If you dont pay, the employee has the right to SUE you (a case at the Dept. of Labor and Employment) anytime. You’re lucky if the person is dumb and dont know his legal rights (keep hiring those if you want to mess up).
2. Need to pay (please) a yearly bonus (aside from the 13th month) either
twice a year (you can divide the total bonus amount) or one time payment during year-end payout (December also). Of course its a profit-sharing thing, depends on the profitability of your business and the individual performance of your employees. Your may consult legal sites/reference in giving out bonuses that depends on the appraisal system. But of course you can set your own since you are the employer anyway. Just remember that every worker deserves a bonus and a raise especially if the business is likewise profitable.
3. Need to pay SSS (Social Security System) both for contractual and regular employees. Contractual workers are less costly than regulars – BUT more contractuals in workplace affects your profit as these people dont commit to be that mush productive – better hire a manager/supervisor who is excellent in motivating these people…
4. Need to pay Philippine Health Insurance and PAG-IBIG (housing fund for employees) both for contractual & regular. Same rules as in SSS applies. But its premium is much lower than SSS.
5. Need to hire people you can trust and possess comprehensive educational background & working experience (depends on the kind of business you may want to put up). Well,if its just a mobile food cart or a small canteen or a sari-sari store (very small convenience store), no need to hire college graduates. People with high school diploma or at least some college undergrads can run your business very well.
I hope I was able to share some significant tips here. Thank you for valuing Filipino traits and having a positive view on treating Filipino workers…The minimum wage really sucks and a glaring reality for every Filipino. I’m not a minimum wage earner (lucky enough to be working as a Business Manager for the past 8 yrs now), but my staff “suffer” from such a very low income. They barely meet both ends every month, but they are very resilient and patient…Thats why I dont yell at them if there are lapses, I train them instead – to be a competent workers…I always encourage them to work hard and earn the right experience at work so that someday, they could be promoted or apply for a high paying salary – at least….
Is the yearly bonus required or just customary? I know the 13th month is required for certain size. In the USA these laws usually kick in at 10 employees.
I didn’t know about the housing allowance at all. I don’t think I understand. What is it for? I’ve not heard of public housing here, only “informal settlers.” Cebu City is in the process of cleaning up a creak area and displacing many squatters in the process but they vow to provide them with housing.
I think the government also fears that if they raise the minimum wage too much, they’ll drive more companies underground, that is paying people off the books.
Ah, about those “informal settlers”, yes they are squatters -meaning they dont have the legal documents of the place where they built their houses. But ironically, if you are the land owner, its your headache to negotiate with those squatters and provide them the relocation site. Grrr, its really a no-win situation.Well I hope the law should revise it and give the favor to the rightful and legal owner…
Yeah, I read that if someone sets up a home on your property and have been there for several days, three I think? They have rights? Maybe I recall wrong or read it form an unreliable source.
The USA has like laws. If you let someone live with you for a short time, they have rights when if you want to kick them out. I think three days then you have to evict them. Now if someone sets up a structure on your land, that gets complicated but the main requirements are that it be open and notoriousness (a legal term) and they have to be there for seven years.
I have seen many of the informal settlers.
Hi. To what occupations do these minimum wages apply? Do these also apply to helpers(katulong)?? and don’t the employees need first to be registered with SSS, Pag-ibig or Philhealth in order to be paid such benefits???? please i really need your response thank u
WoW Shyrell great to hear things from your perspective Please keep commenting here. I would definitely benefit from it. I really like the idea of giving bonus’s based on business productivity & profit. I feel this really creates a positive work environment and brings all works and boss’s together as a family.
Hi, about the housing allowance, its actually a Housing Security Program of the govt. I dont know the equivalent of that in the US. Its like this: as an employer, you need to register your employees to PAG-IBIG Housing Fund. The employee will pay about 3$ every month and you as an employer will also pay the same. That monthly premium will be credited to the employee which will be like his savings account which he could use someday to apply for a housing loan. He wont be able to withdraw that money until the maturity date. You may read more on PAG-IBIG FUND for more details.
As for the 13th month pay,its really a mandatory obligation of the employer here in the Philippines -whether the employee is on contractual or regular status. But it depends on the size of business.
Well, yes, there’s also a con on the issue of minimum wage. Not all businesses can afford higher wages especially if the operating cost is relatively higher. I guess its just striking a balance in everything…Its just that we have a cost of living here that is almost the same as in Singapore and Dubai but the salary is too low to be compared in those countries either.
Hi Shryell, Nice to see you again.
I understand the 13th month is mandatory.
What are you basing the position that the cost of living in the Philippines is equal to Singapore and Dubai? I’m having trouble coming to grips with the cost of living in Dubai being that low.
I find the cost of living in the Philippines to be quite low.
Good blog! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and the information is well written. I am wondering how I may be notified whenever a new post has been made. I have subscribed to your rss feed which really should do the trick! Have a nice day!
It also helps to click the box that “notify me of follow-up comments” when u post. I always like reading and following up on what other post as well.
Glad you pointed that out. I didn’t reply because he was a spammer. I just removed his links and let the post stay.
I’m guessing if you put that comment in Google you’d find it in a thousand places. I think I’ll try.
… I did, he’s using a spinner so that it changes the words.
To what occupations do these minimum wages apply? Do they also apply to the helpers (katulong)??? Please reply thank you
No, Marc, they don’t apply to helpers, they are covered under another law. Wages for them are much lower. I think they also don’t apply to Sari Sari stores and probably employers with less than 10 employees but I don’t know about that. I’m not an expert but I know they don’t apply to domestic workers.
In Cebu area there are 2 areas where foreign companies are concentrated and where thousands of people work for minimum or close to minimum wage. They are called MEPPS 1 and 2, I lived near Mepps1 on Lapu Lapu and used to spend time at Marina Mall near the gates of Mepps 1. At shift change the workers would pour out of there by the thousands and get jeepneys in front of the mall. All the workers are young. Companies only hire people under 25 I believe it is. Most are contract workers from agencies and if they quit before their contract is up they are penalized. Most companies will hire for 6 month contracts and not renew after 2 contracts because if they did then they would have to start paying SS and Phil health benefits.
My GF worked at MEPPS 2 and although she promised to quit when I arrived I couldn’t get her to quit for months. She didn’t trust me because of some philandering of mine and didn’t want to be left without income for her family. Also she wanted to fulfill her contract and keep a good work record for the future. Her being such a hard worker and not needing my money, made me realise what a good one she was, and not just a live off a foreigner type. She worked 12 hours a day and 6 days a week for about 340 pesos or $8 a day. It still would mean a few thousand every couple weeks and a couple thousand pesos sent to her mother in the province was big money for them. I finally was able to get her to quit after she got tired of the rashes and other health problems the toxic chemicals she had to work with were giving her.
The pay is so low that even many very poor filipinoes dont want the jobs and who can blame them. Companies ship their dangerous and polluting jobs to the philippines. I think the wage scale is even lower than in China. These are not career jobs but short term no benefit better than nothing for some type jobs. The USA of 100 years ago type of situation. Hopefully industry will run out of places to chase cheap labor and decide that better treatment of workers is their smart future.
Jodon, there is no way I’d ask a girl to stop working right off. I don’t want her feeling trapped and if things go wrong I don’t want her to feel trapped either. She knew that quitting work would put her at your mercy and getting another job would be next to impossible for her.
Would you like Jessie gone 14 hours a day? If not maybe you would ask her to quit also right? Did she have a job when you met her? Why don’t you share her history and experience in order to help readers better understand Filipinas like I have done? I always wanted mine to finish her contract to maintain a good work record but she renewed it against my wishes.
Jobs are not that difficult to come by in the Mepps areas or in the IT Park area of cebu or in the many malls of cebu. It is just that the pay is very low and most would prefer easier money. I know several with HS or less educations that have gotten jobs. Go to the malls there are so many young workers there that they can actually get in the way and be an impediment to shopping, One for every small rack of clothes for example. They get paid less than 300 pesos a day for standing 10 or more hours a day. Its tough duty for many and many don’t last or look for easier way. No one is at my mercy. When you are 21 and beautiful and have no kids you can just leave whenever you want to and find another. A woman with kids might feel they are at your mercy for the sake of her children.
No, I wouldn’t like her to be gone 14 hours a day, I also wouldn’t have asked her to quite her job if she had one as soon as I got here.
I didn’t know how it was going to go. You’re not here now. Who is supporting her? If you still are, great, but she didn’t know that.
I find it incredibly selfish to arrive and demand she stop working. Being young and beautiful makes it easy to find work in one career in the Philippines.
Jodon, I know what Filipino typically make in a day.
I had chatted her for a year. She wasn’t someone I just met. The 14 hours wasn’t the only thing. Every 2 weeks they would shift from nights to days and back after two weeks. along with the toxic chemicals and long hours very hard on a persons health.
I took care of her while she worked. Made her meals and did the household chores. So your calling me selfish is unjustified and I do support her and her family when I am away to the tune of about $300 a month although she didn’t want me to I insisted.
The point of my post is that workers there are exploited by greedy companies looking to maximize their profits, and money paid to the top management. To try to offer her a way to stop being exploited is not selfish but ur characterization reflects an attitude u develop.
It is also selfish to expect a childless woman with a job like that or one with children even without a job to wait on you. There are many ways young and attractive women there get by including living off of foreigners. Just glad I know that mine was not the kind that wanted to do that.
I dont necessarily post for your enlightenment, after all you are an expert. I post to share my experiences and things learned there with readers, who come here in an attemp to better understand the Philippines and hope that they do the same with me.
Jodon I think you’re misunderstanding rusty’s point he saying that the filipina would be making a risky decision by quitting her job because if something happened to you she could not take care of herself so it’s not that smart of the decision in a bit selfish to make her rely on you as it is a risk and demanding. Not that it is your intent to make her do something she does not want to. It does appear that there is a communication problem because you obviously care about her you don’t want her away for 14 hours and are willing to pay bills and help with chores extra. It appears to meet you to need to have a conversation about your joint future and how best both of you can continue and be happy, while planning for twists and turns that life often hits You with.
As for you observations of malls and emplee’s you’re right there’s a lot of them but they’re all very young and generally attractive if you don’t fall into 1 of those 2 categories it’s hard to get a job. Thier is huge push in PI to only hire the young once over 28 it is much harder to find employment.
I was shocked, culture shocked the first time I saw want ads in the Philippines.
Usually they are looking for someone under 25 and say so in their ads.
Management jobs with lots of experience sometimes go up to 30. Just as a rule, of course there are exceptions.
Foreigners need to understand what is really going on here, instead of just bashing a nation and culture.
Many jobs offer incentives, such as free or reduced housing too supplement the income. It would be impossible to have a wife and kids living with you in a company bed-spacer, for instance.
Also, the minimum wage here is not different than in the west. In fact, in many cases, it’s much higher here.
If you live in California, making US$800 a month, and you are lucky to find a place in the ‘hood for $600-$700, it does not leave you very much to live on.
Whereas here, if you’re making US$300 a month, and paying $20 in rent? That means the Philippine wages are MUCH higher than in the West.
Just one example.
Hey John, I agree with you on the bashing but there is no way the min wage here is higher in any way.
Now I think I understand where you’re coming from on this. That is the cost of living is lower. it is only lower at a substantial cut to standard of living though. Now in many cases, I don’t think those cuts matter very much at all. I don’t need hot centralized hot water though. That is just one example of lower standard of living that is just not important. There are quite a few things though that even though they are cheaper here, you don’t see here very much. Like a microwave or eve3n air conditioning. These days the cost of electricity is higher here, yep rice and dries fish are cheaper. Medical care is cheaper here but A Filipino making six dollars a day has to pay two days of wages just or an office visit if they are lucky enough to earn the min wage and many earn much less.
I just can’t agree that the min wage here is higher than what it is in the USA in real terms. In what ends up as buying power, no, working 60 hours a week for $125 a month is not enough money for basics but then neither is $10 an hour in the USA so I do see where you’re coming from. I would agree that if one looks only at the raw numbers, the situation would seem worse than it is. because the cost of living is lower, the basics can be had for a lot less. so i agree it is mitigated by that but min wage here is lower even if one takes cost of living into account.
Thank you for seeing my point.
I think too many Westerners think how they could spend $200-$300 a month, while still living in the West.
I used to live in the West, and maybe the quality of life is better, but life is still had for many. Being back here, I sacrifice a few things, but I am saving more here than I was in the glamorous West!
I just hate to see a struggling country, my home, get a bad rep. Many Pinoy are richer than most Americans and Europeans I know!
Thanks for the soapbox;)
Hi John,
I’m so confused.
Where do you consider home? The West?
Who could spend $300 a month and living where? Looks like your saying someone could live in the West for $300 a month. I was supporting myself my last two years of high school in the late 70′s and it cost me more than that then, if I included my car insurance. I didn’t have to buy the car or pay rent, I still lived at home but i paid for everything else 40 years ago and I didn’t have much, 19 fish sticks a day, a pack of smokes and a $1 worth of ga a day.
No air conditioning any place, well except my GFs house.
I couldn’t even pay my medical bills in the USA now with $200 a month and that is with my insurance. I couldn’t live here long for $300 a month, It could be done, but I’m too soft, fat and sick, I’d be dead within 6 months. If I got lucky and lived, wouldn’t be fat any more. That might be worth trying it.
I can buy food for that here though. That would be hard in the USA these days, but could be done. You’d have to be homeless, couldn’t pay real estate taxes with that kind o money. But I’m lost, maybe you mean here.
I’ve known a guy that earned nothing and lived here. He sometimes slept on a boat, later stayed with his gf’s family. I don’t know what happened to him. Last I heard he was teaching english for almost no money and his room and board so he was able to ear some cash though I doubt it was legal. I don’t know. Don’t know what happened to him. Nice guy but much tougher X marine (he got thrown out). Probably a bit of a mental case but hey, who isn’t one over the age of 40.
I know people that are happy living here with $1000 a month and I know there are a lot living here on less. I just don’t know them. They guy with nothing was VERY happy here but he’s vanished and it probably didn’t end well for him. There are foreigners here begging in the streets that I know of but I don’t know them. they can usually be found in Angeles City or Manila. Some scamming, some ripped off by their wives and left with nothing.
Most say $600 is the least one can live here on, it would be very hard but it would be easier living here on 600.00 a month than in the USA, especially if you had to pay rent or real estate taxes. I would say $1000 would be the min and that would be very hard for me too but I could do it. cheapest rent with air con I’ve seen is about $200 a month, I really think I’d die without that. wish I was kidding.
Maybe I’m stronger than I think, I do think I’m too stubborn to die. haha
The topic was the Philippines, no?
I was saying that I think foreigners look at p8,000-p12,000 and think it would be small in many Western nations, not realising the value here.
p50,000 and p30,000 is minimum to you? I think 2,500 is good…
Currently I make somewhere between 10,000-15,000. I need to point out that I have a 4 year degree, 10 years experience, excel in my field, have lots o luck, and Mama Mary.
Have you been to the Philippines yet? Are you speculating? Or do you live and work here now?
May I ask what work you and yours do to call 30-50,000 “minimum”???
(PS-Arrogance is frowned upon here)
Yeah, I’ve lived in the Philippines for four years, the problem is you’re messages are not coherent and you clearly are not following me either. So Have at it, I have better things to do than argue with you.n Which btw, I wasn’t.
Hi Rusty. It seems I disagree with you on points. Though I grew up in the West, in and English nation. So I don’t know why you have a hard time following.
I do find your statements offensive.
However, I appreciate the level of cordiality. Some “ex-pat” sites(which I thought you might be part of), are not as cordial.
I suppose we can ‘agree to disagree’ as they say. I will continue to visit, read, and share. So long as you don’t mind a cordial devil’s advocate/second opinion…
Calling me arrogant on my website isn’t exactly a friendly gesture on your part. And you doing so tells me you fail to understand anything I say. You come here and start making judgement about me and don’t know I live here? I don’t think you’re capable of understanding me
You seem to think someone is disagreeing with you when they have not. I don’t know what is going on with you but I don’t know how you could find anything I’ve said offensive when it is more than clear to me you don’t understand me. Was really disappointed to see you go that route. I think I know what is going on but I’m not willing to go to any snap judgments. Enjoy the site if you wish.
I think you’re a bit over defensive causing you to read a disagreement where there is none. I didn’t understand a message, I said i didn’t understand where you were and you come back with attitude. You lost me there,
Rusty is not offensive. Actually I find him fairly easy going on this website.
Whenever I feel I need to “VENT-OFF”, there is one site that is really destined for Philippino bashing. Mind you, I control myself and remain polite whenever (seldom) I post there.
No kidding, I am amazed by the stuff they say there.
On top of that it is 100% Philippino.
Hey Bob, thanks. I just think he doesn’t understand what I’m saying or is so use to hacking people off that he expects it. I don’t know. Maybe he and I just had a failure to communicate but it looked to be headed for trouble and before it got there, I put a stop to it.
As for that site, man, I do not want to give them any traffic. This site gets up over 2000 visitors a day on peak days and I just cannot allow a link to that disgusting site. sorry, hope you understand. A link here is worth quite a bit and there are more deserving people.
thanks though, I didn’t know about that site. I’m going to check it out but probably not for long, I don’t need enemies and I suspect I’ll make some. 
I glanced at it and that level of ignorance and hate really anger me. 
Has anyone observed the way this law is written? I pity any female that attempts to use this in a court of law.
Also, I have several female friends working in a Cebu retail store, Colon st, 12 hours a day with one day off a month. No Breaks except half hour lunch is allowed, and no sitting down at all during the 12 hours.
Their wages vary from 120P-190P per day. This is well below any minimum wage, and akin to slave labor and slave conditions. It is near Hundred Island Store.
I’m not sure what your talking about in regard to females but you can’t compare how laws are written here to the rest of the world.
I know a guy that scoffed at laws here as they often have typos in the them and said they would get thrown out. He spent six months in jail later.
There is a high dose of common sense applied to the law here GENERALLY speaking that is no longer present in the USA. Employment laws are enforced but Filipinos rarely take the employers to jail.
Like the USA, many laws don’t kick in until a certain number of employees are hired. Min wage jobs use to be that way in the USA and probably still are. Not sure.
Yes, I’ve read the law here but it has been a long time. But I don’t know what your talking about. Many people pay off the books too.
Rusty: I guess it is just part of the game… All you can do is give your best opinion based on your experiences here.
As to wages, someone would need to have their head filled with nothing but rocks in order to make a comparison about minimum wages here vs. the West. The PPP is about 50% higher here, certainly, but even vtaking that into account, you simply cannot compare living standards here on minimum vs. California or elsewhere.
As to the comment above regarding Dubai… I lived there, and Rebecca was there for over 20 years. Trust me, her living standards were not very good, even though she was considered “rich” here (Her and her brother lived off the tips of chicken wings for two months because the family back home needed money for an emergency).
John, I thought of one of your articles on LiP recently. I think it was during this exchange with… I forgot his name already… lol
The article where you were fed up with the complaining foreigners. You were pretty hard on them and rightly so. I’m having trouble recalling the exact point of the article at the moment, I usually don’t but I just woke up. it had to do with Americans complaining while there was so much poverty all around them here. All that poverty taught me a lot, like how unimportant centralized hot water is.
Most of the really poor don’t even have running water.
You know Jessie’s family is well off but she was really struggling herself. she’s too proud to ask for help I think. She was very thin when I got here.
Yesterday I was looking at a mom. Her face was sunken in, her legs were not much thicker at the ankle than two of my fingers but her child was wearing a Barbie outfit and was well feed. Same with Jessie when I got here.
Yeah, it is pretty hard to make a comparison like you said.
hey if you ever run out of things to do, I’d love to have you write here too. NOT trying to steal you from Bob.
I know you guys are friends. I wish I was still writing on his site but it would be hard for me to find the time now. Yeah, I guess I don’t really have it. 
And yes, it does go with the territory. I use to put up with downright attacks on me but it just got totally out of hand. So now I cut off the head before it goes that far. I really like to be challenged. When I am, I go do more research and more personal observations. I’m usually proven right but sometimes an updated rightness. lol
I can empathize, Rusty. Thanks for the offer Rusty, but I’m about at my limit now with the new job (My travel will be really picking up after Lunar New Year).
Got one coming up in a similar vein after I read an absolutely asinine exchange on Facebbok…
Arrogant f***. Don’t even allow someone to have a different opinion.
In a country that where you are LUCKY to make 2,500 a month for an 8 person family, you say that one person can barely survive on 50,000 ???
Where do you live? I’ll come f*** your s*** up, and steal all your money.
Fat, rich, arrogant, foreign, child-molesters.
Get the f*** out of our country!
Pinoy Pride!
Hi John, This is why I banned you. I fully expected you to go to this level. I’ve been doing this long enough to be able to spot it pretty fast and long before it does.
Had I known you were pinoy, I wouldn’t have banned you before you actually did it. I would have been very interested in what you find offensive with my thinking.
Your statements here are racist.
Who is making $50,000? Me? I never said on person could barely survive on 50,000. that’s crazy. That’s what I man when I say you are not understanding me. Or are you talking peso or dollars. Again, what your position is unclear.
I agree Pinoy should have pride, most are wonderful people. But someone that says they will steal all my money is not one of them. I’m really sad to see you say something like that. I was going to give you my email address and try to work this out with you because I want to know what you, as a pinoy think I’ve said that is offensive. I want to know for two reasons, one to see if you are really understanding me and two to see if I need to make a change.
Tell you what, I still want to work it out. If you were a foreigner, I have no interest at all. IF YOU want to email me, send it to rusty@cebuexperience.com but if you follow it up with more of this kind of junk, then it will never be read. The next move is yours. I’d hate to see you leave it like this.
PS I love different opinions with someone I can communicate with.
There is one other point here. Yes many Filipino are struggle to earn even P2500 a month and even with this low income are quite happy.
I am an American and I am spoiled, I agree with you on that. I learned a lot from Filipino about this when I first got here. I’ve learned that a lot of things that I use to take as a necessity are not necessary at all. I know live happily without many luxuries I use to have and I am happy in this wond3erful country.
P2500 a month would leave me dead. I can’t buy me medication for that and I would die without some of it. Americans are not use to this life style and for that reason living on an income like that would be VERY hard for most of us. I would probably die without air con John. All you’d have to do is ask my girlfriend. She’s seen what the heat does to me but I have more health problems than most.
Now when I was young, I could have taken it in stride, I grew up with out that and many other things. I grew up poor by American standards but even that would have been a life of luxury for many Filipinos. Not all, as you know some are very wealthy and many more are comfortable.
for Americans to come here and whine about the cost of living is amazing to me. Like you pointed toward, look at your fellow man, look at how many Filipinos live. when you live one way for 50 years and then have to change it drastically it is hard. But $1000 a month of P50,000 (about) is not a lot off money to us. It will go much further here than in the USA but I wouldn’t want an American to come here on that and think they are going to lead a life of luxury because they are not. not to them. and there are many people out there telling them they will be rich here. The come here and find it isn’t true in their minds. when someone comes here I want them to have a realistic view. the last thing I want is to have someone come here because i tell them they will love it here and for them to be miserable.
You keep making judgement about me based on one thing I’ve said. I know you haven’t looked very hard into the site because you didn’t even know I lived here. I’ve opened my mind up to try to see things from the Filipino point of view but you been very judg3emental about things I can tell you don’t know what my position is. You jumped down my throat because I asked you were here is. That wasn’t a good start. How was I suppose to know where you are? Most of the people that comment on this site are not in the Philippines.
I love learning from Filipino but you came here with an attitude because you think you’ve been treated badly before. You didn’t give me a fair chance. Honestly I thought you were newly in the Philippines and an American that thinks they have all the answers and then have it degrade into the kind of attack you finally delivered but you’ve been attacking from the beginning.
John do you really want foreigners to leave, take the money we spend here and leave. You really don’t see the benefit in us being here.
I benefit because my opportunities in life here are much higher than in the USA. The Philippines benefits because I spend 95% of my income here. Income that goes to sales takes and feeding Filipino families from buying products and services here. It is a win win situation.
i need a debate.. here’s the topic.. “government believes that the average filipino workers are underpaid.” i need both negative and positive side.. please please please.. thanks a lot!!!
I believe this to be John, both posters are from the same city.
In any case, this is a topic that I’m a little concerned about treading. I’m not sure it is any of my business and fear it might be viewed that way by some Filipino. Since you asked, I’m going to jump in.
I make no comment directed at government opinion period. I don’t comment on Filipino politics with an opinion That is not something the government condones and I will honor that. I don’t know what the governments position is and I’m sure there are differing opinions among different government members.
Now with that said, yes wages are too low. Are they the right wage for the circumstances? That is harder to say. Clearly there is too much poverty here. too many people being paid off the books at even less than the minimum wage. Filipinos often work long hard hours for very little pay by American standards but this is not America. My GF use to work 60 hours a week for about $100 a month and was devastated when she lost her job. The company she worked for was sold.
when I found out what she was making, I told her look, you can work for me helping me with my websites. That was before I came here. I could pay her that even though I was making almost nothing myself at the time so she could keep her kid fed at least.
These low wages are a chief reason why foreigners can live here on much less money. I know I feel some guilt over that and I know some others that do. then I know others who complain about having to pay a bar girl $30. You’ve got to be kidding me. No, I’ve never paid a bar girl anything but the attitude is what bothers me. They act like this price is so terrible when they could never be with a girl that beautiful in the USA for a price or for attraction. And a lot o guys are coming here for that. When I came here I didn’t even know about Angeles City. I’d like to go but I’m not going to pay for a bar girl. I’d like to see though.
I think wages will come up but it will take time. All these calls centers will help. They will get more people working and usually at higher pay than minimum wage. They often make $300 to $400 a month and that is too low but mot are very happy to have it. As the number of people employed go up, it will force employers to raise wages to attract workers. Why would I want to work in a hot factory for min wage when I can work in a call center for three times that in better conditions. These things take time.
Are there some elements within the Philippines that want to keep wages low? You bet they are but I am really worried about treading into that topic.
I am a capitalist and I believe the system will work but needs some government regulation to prevent the worst abuses. Do wages need to be $10 an hour at a min here? Probably not. Not that that is a lot o pay, most people earning that in the USA work two jobs. The prices are higher there.
If wages go up to fast, employers will close down. Some of the prices here are pretty low too and many employers can’t afford to pay more. Is there a massive amount of discrepancy between the rich and poor Filipino? Yes!!! it is so large that I fear it could lead to serious problems. Now I’m really into an area I cannot tread any further because I’m a foreigner.
These are matters for Filipino to work out and I have ZERO doubt they can. They don’t need my help. Filipino are smart and resourceful. Honestly, education is not up to American standards in some ways. In other ways though it is betting it. I am amazed at the math Jessie’s littlest one is undertaking in pre-school. Geometry in pre-school? Wow! Education does not equal intelligence, Filipino do not suffer at all in the intelligence area. But some of the IT school around here are way below what an IT school in the USA is teaching. Still there are plenty of qualified Filipino to get the ball rolling and some of the schools are fully on par with the USA or beat them.
I don’t think it is an easy question if the pay here is adequate. I do think there are some abuses going on here. I do think that things are slowly improving but with so many people not working at all, scraping P2500 a month to live on any way they can and way too much suffering. What is amazing are all the smiles one sees here with so much poverty.
Still think I’m a horrible person?
Whether this is John or not, a debate on the wages (employment) issues in the Phils will continue, no doubt repetitively, for a long while to come. So, I’ll dive in and add my Peseta’s worth. Here goes: -
I perceive “one” of the “many” reasons for the low wages is the amount of employees per “job”. It is a bit like Job Sharing, but on a vastly different scale than most affluent countries do.
Many times I see 3,4,5,6 people following me around a department store in the chance I need assistance etc. There are often more employees than customers in some shops on a standard day.
So, to enable more people to survive, more are employed, but the wages are shared exponentially in most cases. Sure, there are variances and exceptions. Better this than only a few employed and many more starving.
It so right to state that tourism and expats from all over the world contribute greatly to the Phils economy. It is also true that most people search for Value For Money (VFM) everywhere, and Phils is a prime VFM market for some Foreigners and Locals alike.
Philppines is a wonderful friendly and beautiful country, (excepting some smog riddled cities). I hope it stays this way and realize that people like John are a poor and bad example of an otherwise exceptional place and its’ peoples.
Smell the roses and keep smiling. Even the most beautiful rose needs manure sometimes.
Scoee: You know, in business school we had a case study about Dole in the Philippines in the 1920′s.
At the time, Dole tried to pay their workers far above what they were accustomed to receive on one of their plantations. Initially, it was a good thing, since the workers had money in their pockets. It did not take very long for inflation to skyrocket, though, and in the end, many of the workers were worse off than when the increases were given.
On LinkedIn, there is a vigorous debate going on about call center wages and the lack of employee loyalty (People moving job to job). The industry continues to grow here, with starting wages being around P16,000… 30% higher than three years ago. This rapid growth is harming the industry as a whole. Always remember that if you base your business on price, rather than quality, someone will always do it cheaper.
That is what they are just beginning to see with call centers. Some are losing business to India, the Caribbean, and even Vietnam.
Growth in wages is always best if it is slow and steady… Rapid changes make it harder on everyone, employee, employer, government, and customer, over the long run.
Unlike many on the Net, I truly have hope for this country. I believe that Filipinos can succeed.
(And, I have very little sympathy for expats whining about the cost of living… There is inflation in the US and Europe, too, you know)
Hi John M.
Yes, I have no doubt about many tried and failed experiments. As I said, I mentioned only one of the many probable reasons for the wages and employment being as it is. Your info on the “Dole” is an eye opener to a previously unknown (to me). I read, I learn, I share.
I also have met many expats from many countries that whine about the most trivial things.
The majority of Filipnas I meet are by far, more happier than most people I know in my so-called lucky country. So, the saying “money cannot not buy happiness” may be true after all.
Inflation, like taxes, is certain everywhere. Even a tax free state has hidden taxes and cannot avoid inflation.
Yeah John, that was a really good story you wrote.
You know, I’ve wondered what would happen to a small businessman who went into business here and paid much higher than normal wages here. I think it could rile up competitors if there are in in that market. I have wondered if it could be a safety issue?
I’m going to write a story about shopping in Cebu soon, and when I do, I’m going to touch on this. most stores don’t have enough people to help you.
Would anyone lie to help this 54 year old Irishman who would love to retire to The Phlippines but doesn’t know how. I need advice on what kind of living standard I could have on 1000 usdollars a month in Cebu. my “wish” list is a 2 bedroomed house and a fairly decent living standard. I don’t smoke and drink little and rarely.I would like to start my retirement in Cebu because I beieve it has a large active english speaking expat community, and see what happens after that. Would you please me by email because I’m not very good on these blogs ie I only found this one by accident. . Thank you Rusty and all contributers for giving me lots of information. All further assistance will be gratefully appreciated. Regards to all Gerry
I only do email with people that buy my eBook. Did you buy it?
There are a lot of articles on the site about the cost of living here in comparison to the USA. There are links in the sidebar and near the bottom of the page.
Sorry I meant would anyone like to help. HaHa I wouldn’t like anyone to lie to me
He he he…that is one typo error that makes us smile.
Anyway I would like to reply on the wages issue. There are different salary scales that industries pay depending on the law of supply and demand of labor, according to location. Yes, there are many unemployed and underemployed in the Philippines, but among them, very few have the competency to land a call center job. Although generally we Filipinos speak and understand English, but few can do so on a professional/international level. On top of this, there are other technical skills that call centers require, plus the fast-paced, highly stressful environment. These factors are the reason why they pay higher than the other sectors.
In other words, what I am saying here is that the more complex the skill set needed to do a job, the fewer there will be available workers so the higher the salaries and benefits the employers are willing to pay. Conversely, the more menial the work, the more there are available workers out of the 94M people here, so the cheaper they get.
Employers should not feel guilty as long as they pay the minimum wage and the SSS, Philhealth and Pag-ibig contributions. What matters most is that employees are treated in a humane and fair manner.
Research studies have shown that at a certain point, salary ceases to be the reason for employees to stay. And that often times, employees stay because they feel they “belong” to the organization and are willing to forego higher pay to be with their office mates and friends who treat them well and appreciate the work that they do. Of course this does not mean that employers not correct their employees’ mistake. It simply means that at a certain wage level; a just and fair work environment is found to be more attractive to employees over a simple higher salary where relationships are rough and outputs are not appreciated.
Rusty,
So sorry I am so tied up now. I am actually pursuing post graduate studies in management so I have tons of reports and researches to write, aside from attending to my clients. I do consulting work.
Irma
It is okay Irma, you don’t owe me a thing. If you get some time do it then.
I remember school and being near dead and totally out of time.
No, salaries will not just jump higher since we learned our lesson when many companies relocated to China. And companies are very strong here so their influence towards government over matters that affect their ROI is high.
Do you mean the foreign business had too much or the government red tape and extra payments are too high. It is my perception that corruption here is overstated for most of us in the Philippines. But that changes a bit for those operating a business. If it is not too impolite to discuss.
I’d love to know more. I will know more someday.
Rusty,
This is a global age where everything can be known online, and I am a world citizen so I feel free to make intellectual or informative exchanges about any topic, except private matters.:)
No, it was because there was a time when organized labor was a runaway force here in the Phils. Companies shut down due to unfavorable and even dangerous labor climate. Afterwards, it was basically due to a capitalist mindset. Companies thought that they could make more sales and cut more costs by operating in China so they moved. This proved true to some, others got burned because there were other realities that they had to deal with there which there were not ready to face.
Corruption in the Philippines is true, like anywhere else. But this is more on government services. What I understand is that corruption in other countries takes the form of private individuals/corporations paying off a government official to get favors. This also exists here. But more often, it is the case of government employees skimming off government funds to put inside their pockets instead of using the funds for the public service/project that is was allocated for. I do not have the impression that it is a big time issue for business except for some tax collectors making rounds and asking for some snacks. However, I know that some do pressure business owners who violate some legal or tax laws and then instead of settling the issue the right way, they will offer to “fix” it for a fee. So the key for small business operators is not to violate a law so you can always howl out if someone from government tries to squeeze you for money.
Anyway, while I am at it 1000usd is fine if our Irishman friend is not indulgent and refrains the nightlife on a regular basis. A key is to get his wishlist at around Php 8,000-12,000.00 a month, depending on location. An important thing here is to have someone who does knows Cebu to find the not so expensive place. So if he knows someone in Cebu it is best. Eating out is of course more expensive than house cooking. So it is important to alternate.
You can also eat Filipino roadside food very cheap. Or even the Filipino restaurants just off the street, cheap but hot. Golden Courie in the malls is cheap in my mind.
Thanks everyone. Yes Rusty I want to buy your book. I sent you an email asking you for your euro price. If you don’t deal in euro I suppose I can arrange through my bank to get dollars to you. I just need to get to it. Thanks Irma. I’m determined to make the move anyway. My son and daughter are emigrating to Australia this year. Ireland no longer does it for any of us and I reckon we are heading into a long period on recession in this, no longer, not so green and pleasant land.
Do you have good friends in Cebu? If none I can introduce you to some friends. I have simple but good hearted friends. Just let me know.
Opps. Sorry Rusty. If this is a service you provide to your clients, pardon me.
I don’t follow Irma, I don’t see anything wrong. I don’t introduce people to locals. Especially as a service.
I meant giving referrals who can assist. It is also not a service for me (I do management and business consultancy) but just friendly assistance. I have numerous international friends so I know what it means to them to meet good people when they start out in the country. This ensures that they get a head start in having good experience instead of having bad ones.
Thanks
I’m not the most social person. Actually, I’d like to go rub elbows with the crowd, just not able to do it very much. most people find me a little rough around the edges too perhaps.
You’re going to need to buy it online and Paypal will handle the conversion. There is no hard copy. Just downloads. You’ll need a debit or credit card or paypall account to buy it. You can fund a paypal account with your checking account.
Nothing to send me, I have nothing to send you.
I suppose someone could Zoom it to me. The Euro price however many Euros you’d need to send to put $37 in my Paypal. 
Thanks Rusty, I’ll be touch with you shortly. Irma I might take you up on that.
Anytime Rusty. I just need advance schedule because either I am busy with an engagement and cannot check my mail, or my Cebu based friends are out of town. I do wish for you to have an enjoyable life here in the Philippines.
Irma, you just write what you like to write when you have time to do it and I’m sure I will post it. Lots of people here need your info on employment matters in the Philippines. Lucky to have you.
Email is a terrible way to reach me. If you need to reach me privately the forum is the best place.
http://cebuexperience.com/cebuforums/
Hi to everyone I just want to ask something and I do hope that some body can answer me …I am working here in some part of northern Mindanao area,and the owner of the company told as to get TIN # for the tax ,he said that he will collect tax from us because it recommended by the BIR”he said,.I have no problem about the tax all of us entitled to pay taxes ,my problem is we are only below minimum
wage..we have only 180 Php. per day then after that he will cut a tax from that amount ,,what will be my salary after a month?
my question is, is it recommended to pay tax even if you don’t rich in the minimum wage…
thanks for the answer..
God bless to all