An Analysis of Income Sufficiency and the Coping Strategies of Industrial Workers in Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna

Abstract

When the pandemic began its undesirable effects, the world began to respond to the changes it has brought. Social distancing, lockdowns, quarantines, businesses temporarily or permanently closing down are just some of the sudden effects that everyone had to deal with last 2020. After more than two years battling the effects of the pandemic, many have been plagued by a new type of problem, the rising inflation rate. Whenever inflation rate rises, prices of different types of goods and services are also increasing. It can be observed that the prices of fuel, onions, sugar, food from restaurants, and other goods and services have been increasing since the start of the pandemic. What contributed to this rising inflation rate are the international conflicts and global supply chain shortage. There are also other factors contributing to this increase of prices. The researcher wanted to know the impact of inflation among low-wage earners. For the reason that the researcher lives near the industrial parks in Brgy. Canlubang, Calamba City, Laguna, the researcher interviewed twelve industrial workers who work inside these industrial estates of Canlubang, as well as residing inside the barangay. The researcher asked the participants about their income sufficiency and how it is affected by the rising inflation rate. The researcher found out that the participants earn from Php14,000 up to Php32,000 every month. Half of the participants said that their current income is insufficient for them while five of them said otherwise. One participant mentioned that sometimes his income is either sufficient or insufficient for him. The participants were impacted by the rising prices by budgeting their expenses as well as setting aside their non-essential activities. They also prioritize and largely allocate for their food expenses and other needs, rent and utilities, children’s needs, and others. They also plan ahead for their expenses and even try to lessen their food expenses by strategizing on how they could spend less. The participants also call for an income increase, lower prices of essential items, better employee benefits, and as well as removing contractualization.