How much does a person from the Philippines earn? How much money does a person from the Philippines earn or make a day? From the least paid all the way to the president, I took to the streets to try to find out. The results, while holding no scientific nor Wall Street Journal like quality, are interesting nonetheless. I say per day, as when I ask people on a lower-income, this is what they quote me, exactly: “I make ___ , sir.” A middle-income person is more reluctant, but will quote by the month using the term“around“. Upper income people usually just smile. But will happily tell you what everyone else makes. (Updated for 2014) Cost of living in The Philippines (average, local) Here’s a rough idea of what local things cost so you can see what a wage quote lower down must be spent on: Jeepney ride – 10 pesos (medium distance transport) Cost of fuel per liter – p58 + Tricycad – city transport - p6 + Small bottle of water – p15-20 Average local meal with meat – p69 60 pesos (p60) = USD$1.37 approx The reality of wealth distribution in the Philippines: A village girl or boy brought to a town to work as a house keeper can be paid as little as 0 to 50 pesos per day. They are given accommodation and meals(basic, as in rice and the floor). Official minimum wage in The Philippines is based on regions, and noted later on. Low income earnings: The average security person man or woman earns p250+ per day The average guest house / hotel cleaner earns 250+ pesos per day The Jollibee starting salary is 250+ pesos per day A receptionist (starter) earns: p200 – 300 per day (it should be noted that government regulation states benefits should be given to every permanent employee. So most employers only hire people for 5 months then release them. Supermarket chains and fast food restaurants in particular) Middle income earnings A starting bank teller earns p7,000 – 10,000 A call center employees earns p10,000 – 18,000 per month An office administrator earns p10,000 – 20,000 per month A basic teacher earns p15,000 – 18,000 per month Note: there are hidden extras in many middle-income salaries. Many will also be given a free sack of rice every month, a health care plan and transport. Depending on the job and circumstances. Upper income A doctor earns between p18,000 – 35,000 pesos per month An airline pilot earns 80- 100,000 pesos per month How much does a Government official in The Philippines make? Now this was hard to find answers on, I wonder why? The president earns 60,000 - 70,000 pesos per month (everyone laughs when this is mentioned) A governor earns 40,000 - 50,000 The president’s “official” salary was easy to find out. As for a Governor, Mayor or other government officials no one seems to know exact 2014 salaries. If you happen to know, then please leave a comment (references would be great). Salaries of Government officials in the Philippines: (in Peso) President of the Philippines salary is: 67,750 Vice President’s salary is: 52,200 -62,917 Senator’s salary is: 45,425 -52,052 Congressman’s salary is: 40,425 -48,052 Governor’s salary is: 38,875 – 50, 323 Mayor’s salary is: 28,422 -35, 842 Note: I can’t help but add in here about the massive fringe benefits politicians get in The Philippines. Not forgetting the wealth of political dynasties, perks, expenses, shady business partnerships and corruption the countries politicians have been known for. They are among the richest earners, one way or another. See further below for an example of a $20,000 steakhouse dinner Official Minimum Wage in The Philippines 2014 The official minimum wage in the Philippines set by the government is broken into regions (based on non-agriculture salaries, upper limits). NCR - P466 CAR – P280 Region I Ilocos – P253 Region II, Cagayan Valley – P255 Region III Central Luzon – P336 Region IV A Calabarzon – P362 Region IV B Mimaropa – P275 Region V Bicol - P260 Region VI Eastern Visayas – P287 Region VII Central Visayas – P340 Region VIII Western Visayas - P260 Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula – P280 Region X, Northern Mindanao – P306 Region XI, Davao Region – P312 Region XII Central Mindanao – P270 Region XIII Caraga – P268 Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao - P250 For further information and breakdowns on the official minimum wage in The Philippines please see The Philippines National Wages & Productivity Commission page Keep in the mind the above is the official minimum wage and not always what is paid out. Tax is also applicable at 32% for all salary earners. Expats & overseas workers: Diplomats earn the same as their civil service salaries back home, plus hardship bonuses (differs depending on origin country). Least to say, they are far from suffering judging by the luxury apartments/ buildings, most live in. Non owning manager of a corporate overseas business: $USD 80,000 + per year depending on business. (plus other benefits) Unqualified expat looking for a job – same as a local, unless you get lucky. A note on small expat businesses in the Philippines: in order to run a registered business in the Philippines you need to be a national. Foreigners generally (that I am aware of) have two options. Marry a local: in which case the local will own the majority share of the company Form a company whereby the BOD has at least 5 Pinoy members I’ve seen and heard of many a bad story due to the above. Equality & fairness in the Philippine salary: The above is not an official list of salaries by some government body. These are quotes from people either in that job, related to it, from the street or from a news agency and treated as a given average. What struck me was the salary scale of a call center employee vs a teacher or even a doctor. Call centers are booming in The Philippines, and many graduates would rather work in a call center, rather than in their chosen profession. Apart that is from those looking to leave the country, via their profession. Filipinos working overseas: In my time here I’ve met a staggering amount of Filipinos looking to work overseas. This is actually an industry itself. And no, I am not talking about the return of wealth from overseas workers. I am talking about the amount of businesses within the Philippines dedicated to getting people jobs overseas. And, to a lesser scale, simply taking the money with idle promises. Unemployment vs overseas working Today’s figures state there about 12 million overseas Filipino workers. The population is around 95 million. That’s roughly about 10% of the population that work overseas. The unemployment rate is around 8% give or take. How this is actually calculated is beyond me as there’s very to back this up. Living off the land out of necessity and eating nothing but plain rice is considered employed. Fringe benefits & justice Rather than the usual developing country heartache of focusing on people eating nothing but plain rice, children falling asleep due to hunger, or no medical care. I’d like this to highlight the flip side of things. Whereby some people live very well In 2009 as the Philippines was struggling to cope with the world food crises former President Arroyo spent $15,000 and then another $20,000 on two meals for 60 colleagues whilst visiting the U.S.A. One of which was at a steakhouse where the bill was allegedly footed by a nephew of former president Marcos. The story was reported in many places. Here’s a brief ABS-CBN report. The follow ups to this were met with non-statements, allegations, rebuttals and the usual “the head of state desires good treatment because …” It’s become somewhat of a “right” for a politician in The Philippines to be treated like a celebrity and demand certain “privileges”. Conclusion on earning and salaries in The Philippines: This should give readers a rough insight into how mixed, cumbersome, irrational, fraudulent and bizarre salaries are in The Philippines. From hand to mouth non earners, to teachers earning less than call center staff to Presidents and their entourages eating $20,000 dinners. It’s a bizarre scale, and I somehow I don’t think The Philippines is alone in the world in this regard. And, it would be interesting to see if anyone else can add to this, or disagree with my findings, either in the Philippines, or globally. I am sure wealth distribution anomalies happen elsewhere too.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 06:09:12 +0000