Auntie Charo's Soapbox

In an article in today's on-line version of Marianas Variety,Gina Tabonares reports that Mr. Alfred Lam, president of the Chinese association(bet that association-cuz I know they don't all support such increased hikes for entry level employees....I know many employers who have employees who have been working years who still don't make such salaries!) Anyway, here's a bit of her story to whet your taste buds: "with the successive gas price increase and spiraling prices of commodities, the existing minimum wage rate is no longer livable.
“Increasing the minimum wage is a proven way to decrease poverty,” Lam, an employer of more than 100 workers of Ambyth Corp. said over the weekend.
The business leader said that he believes that the best way to improve productivity is to give a reasonable wage to workers.
“Although all of my workers are earning above the (federal) minimum wage, I believe that nobody who works full time should live in poverty. I believe that working people should be paid a wage that can support a family,” Lam said."
I think the dude's been chewing old betelnut(yes, Chinese chew pugua!) I agree that the increase in entry level pay would help the impoverished but.......it would also bring down companies that are barely making it what with the increases in operating costs.....the very costs Lam cites. If power, water and shipping rates are going up for Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Dominoe's, then where are they going to get the extra money to pay for these increases for their entry level employees which I guarantee will not be coming from Talofofo, Agat, Sinajana, Dededo or Barrigada.....The new employees will be coming directly from the airport, hell, director's jobs don't pay that much in the neighboring islands!
I'm for increased salaries...across the board! Unfortunately, these are not the days for any increases.......look around, how many buildings do you see that have recently been painted? If the Hilton Hotel had the extra cash, they'd have used it to get a new paint job, likewise the Marriott, the Hyatt, the Outrigger and on and on and on! Sure there are more military folk walking around and I shout, Hooray and welcome to our island and hope you'll have a nice stay, but it's been too recent their arrival, the numbers haven't made much of a difference yet....certainly not enough of a difference for Mr. Lam to come out and side with an idea that would bring ruin to the economy.....me thinks he's probably not member of the Chamber of Commerce cuz he sure don't think like one!