We live in a society where it is
perceived that we need jobs more than the jobs needs us. We put up
with every displeasure and sacrifice a lot more just because we
fear losing the job. One of the most common problem facing workers,
especially in third world countries, is Salary.
Employers argue that it is their
investment, their money that runs the business. Hence the right to
pocket a big chunk of the profit. Employees did not help in any way
to start and run the business, and the risk is on the investor since
no employer will take a pinch of the loss when the company goes down.
Another reason is that operating costs
are high, electricity, transport, high taxes you can name them all.
Often, a boss tells an employee to quit
and he will get a replacement even before he steps his foot out of
the office. And its true, there are thousands who are willing to take
your job even though the wages are unfair. Almost the entire urban
population has to buy food, clothes and even rent a place to sleep.
Who will come to employees' rescue when the employer acts judge?
Truth of the matter, No business will
put a price tag on it's products or services that are lower than the
operation cost. When transport costs rise or government raises tax,
they raise their prices too. Failure to do that, the business falls.
Using that as a reason to pay low wages is just a mean excuse.
People spend a better part of their
days at work. Its not a favor, they are helping you while you help
them. Its an employer-employee business. As much as it is not fair to
be given a share of the profit since they are not investors, they
still deserve a pay that will afford them a decent housing, food,
transport and some money remaining as savings without having to
sacrifice their basic needs. Let employers include decent salaries as
part of their operational costs and not something they can reduce to
give them an edge in competition.
You might find out that after all the
operational costs and taxes, a businessman remains with a profit of a fifty million. The business has a hundred workers earning ten
thousand each which is below the average decent salary of thirty
thousand. Increasing twenty thousand to salaries of these a hundred
employees costs two million. Cutting two million to the net profit of
the businessman will remain him with forty eight million. Yet, this
humane step is a very bitter one for most employers to make.
Rescue comes from policy. Good salaries
enables employees to employ others and pay them well in some of home
jobs that come up. It also enables employees to have a culture of
shopping. This supports other businesses and economy of a country
grows. Law makers should make it a law that employees are not
exploited. And judges should show no mercy to parasitic employers.
They should be forced to pay good salaries to employees. Pay fair salaries or
stop your business.
