Minimum Wage

As you all know, most people in Honduras live in poverty, a poverty that we in the United States have never seen. I am all for improving the way the Hondurans are forced to live.

Believe it or not, there are minimum wage laws and other labor laws. The system is very hard to figure out, as Karen and I well know. The minimum wage does not apply to everyone. For instance domestics have no rights. The minimum wage is much higher in the large cities than in the rural areas. The minimum wage changes once each year.

This year the president, unilaterally decided to almost double the minimum wage. That may sound good in theory, but hundreds have already lost their jobs because employers cannot afford to double wages. Hundreds more will lose their jobs as well if this minimum wage stays in effect. Marc and I both have lost sleep worrying how we could pay all of our employees at Casa de Esperanza without having to lay some of them off. We only have ten employees and we try to be very fair with our pay, paying more than minimum. Some of the employees that have worked here a long time are making fairly nice wages, nice for Honduras. Under the new law, not one of them would be making minimum wage. That kind of increase in expenses would hurt all nonprofits and all businesses.

Wednesday we heard the new minimum wage would be rescinded until the end of the month. For the rest of the month, there would be negotiations until a more fair wage could be agreed upon. A wage that would not cause thousands to lose their jobs. Then yesterday, it was published in the paper that the president said this was the law and it would be enforced.

There is much uncertainty in this country now. A country that has 30% unemployment and thousands starve to death each year. Where malnourished children stare at you with hollow eyes. Where there are already hundreds living in the city dump. Yes, there is uncertainty and fear among people that they, too, may lose what little income they have.

Please pray for the leaders of this country. Please pray for the people. Pray that the minimum wage issue will be resolved satisfactorily and that no one else will lose the jobs and income. Pray that no more children have to go hungry and that no more people have to resort to scavaging for food with the buzzards inside the dump.

Terri