Colombian Department Store Wage

Albatross says on Jun 16, 2008, 12:15:

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“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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dwmte7 says on Jun 16, 2008, 14:30:

i presume you mean an 'exito' or a 'confama' like store. to answer your question, not much. they might take home after all the 'shakedown', $150.00 a month. maybe. it's sad, but the colombians have a way of taking back a lot of their employees income. now remember albatross, they have health insurance and maybe a retirement stipend. but nobody's getting rich. my suegro worked for peldar for 35 yrs in the u.s. that's PPG pittsburg plate glass. he gets a retirement check and raised 7 kids but rich? nope.

dwmte

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SanDiegoSurf says on Jun 16, 2008, 14:40:

So how much is she trying to shake you down for ?

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Catfish35 says on Jun 16, 2008, 18:18:

From what I have learned recently.. believe the minimo is around 400 to 500 cop per month give or take. Employers pay empleados insurance and so forth. They are entitled to 1.5 pay on Sundays and holidays (of which Colombia is one of the most holiday riddled countries in the world).
Although the employees do not earn a whole bunch, if they work for a decent company or decent people they are not "shaken down" actually they are afforded quit a few rights and protections some of are more than what are given in the USA.

"So many guns, and so few brains". sam spade

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Catfish35 says on Jun 16, 2008, 18:29:

I find it interesting you mention "store" if you walk into a typical grocery store you will find many more employees than it is typically necessary as compared to the USA. on top of the actually store employees you find company representatives standing in each aisle. Young girls dressed up in their Gillette, Nivea, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate, Bayer, clothes or name tags.
The efforts to employ or offer employment are interesting. I am still aware that they are far from perfect!

"So many guns, and so few brains". sam spade

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tejasmarcos says on Jun 16, 2008, 18:40:

hard to make it on that kind of "coin"

trying to walk a straight line on sour mash and cheap wine...

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angelitabogota says on Jun 16, 2008, 21:38:

I totally agree with SanDiegoSurf ;)

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Cheers Terry says on Jun 16, 2008, 22:37:

Ditto.

Cheers,
Terry

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 04:18:

several good points were mentioned above...one being the number of employees/representatives available to assist shoppers. another, if workers are employed by honorable employers they can have nice working conditions.

it's not that workers aren't well protected my extant laws...they are. unfortunately, employers more often than not 'skate' the law and work the table to their interest. it's very difficult for employees to gain redress after/while being screwed by the unscrupulous.

i had about 60-70 employees in the late 80's and early 90's and became well familiar with the issues they confront and the extent to which they were able to seek redress for their grevences.(sp)

dwmte

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Albatross says on Jun 17, 2008, 05:11:

Actually, I'm a little suspicious that my novia might be stretching the truth.
She lives with her mother who doesn't work... she said that about 50% of her salary goes towards the utilities, food for her family, ect. I told her that when she comes to live with me, I would give her the same amount to send to her mother for the house (until she gets a job here). But then when I asked her what she makes, she said 900,000 cop per month. I know the minimum is around 500,000, so I'm wondering if she padded her salary to get a little more from me. Not that the difference is going to break me, I just want to be sure I'm not getting played.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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Timba says on Jun 17, 2008, 06:18:

I don't think they would be making much more than 20,000COP per day.

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billyb says on Jun 17, 2008, 06:21:

$900,000 sounds a bit high. Would it be too inpolitic of you ask her for a pay stub?

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viajero123 says on Jun 17, 2008, 06:41:

I know recent graduate engineers making 1.000.000. So 900.000 sounds a bit high, but still possible if she is does certain administrative tasks. Or maybe she is just a really good seller and gets pretty good commissions.
Why live with her if she if you don't believe her though?

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:05:

just ask her for her 'liqidation' report. that's the tell-all.

dwmte

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mranderson says on Jun 17, 2008, 10:20:

what does she do?

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:20:

viajero...a sideline answer to that question is like this. theft is a common in colombia as takin a crap. it is equally prevalent from casa narino to your own home. your brother, uncle, best friend will steal from you.
once, one of my truly best friends stole something from me and upon realizing it, i asked, mario, why the f**k you rippin me off. his reply was perfect...'...shit, douglas, you had two of them. certain things are givens there. and needn't be taken as picados, final. shit happens. the same for little white lies. colombians have, quite often, dificulty speaking what we accept as the truth. get used to it.

dwmte

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Albatross says on Jun 17, 2008, 11:58:

What does "needn't be taken as picados, final" mean ?

The problem is that after awhile, the "little white lies" about the small things become so common that you begin to wonder it they're telling the truth about the big things... do they love you ?... are they being faithful ?... ect.

“Democracy - a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." - H.L. Mencken

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 12:52:

well i can't speak for you albatross, but i've told a lie or two or.... in my life.

by that i meant a terminal sin. the ender. good LORD it's by being easy and trusting with each other that REAL truth takes root. if you shoot at the ground squirrel every time he sticks his head up, he'll never come out. cut him/her some slack, they come out into the light. same with folks. if we whack em for unimportant infractions--what ever--then they/we never feel secure to actually be REAL. time, trust, faith, have always proven the best ways to get what i seek. and that is, what i give.

dwmte

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eywed says on Jun 17, 2008, 13:10:

Albatross, Sounds like you might be having second thoughts? Careful, Many a folks on here have had bad times with their mates and the warning signs were all there but ignored cause they were in love. Take two stepps back and look at the big picture. I can't take another person on here crying how bad their life is now and how they wished they would have paid attention to the warning signs that are there if you look for them or just simply ignore them.

Ay Hombe!!!!!

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 13:13:

i dunno, eywed...i always found forgiveness to be a real investment with a real good dividend in the end (no pun intended)

dwmte

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dwmte7 says on Jun 17, 2008, 13:16:

it's just that folks get raised in a certain way and it's second nature to act/believe that that's the way it is. a little time, a little patience allows them to 'wake up'. damn, children can't know, until they know. and in the case of a lot of folks there, they're children way into adult hood. be easy and like the lotus grows up out of the mire, a truly wonderful person can blossom from the muck which life, so often, is.

dwmte

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jinksmiester says on Jun 18, 2008, 08:03:

I have a family member who worked for a while in a sao store in barranquilla bagging grocerys and helping out....no pay at all except propinas...
Have other family members working at stop jeans in different locations...15 to 20 thousand a ten hour day..

A man is not old until regret takes the place of dreams

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rocinante says on Jun 18, 2008, 09:14:

Gotta cousin - he and his girlfriend work at Exito. It pays minimum wage which is just north of 400,000 pesos a month - although they work hourly. Anyone claiming more than that who is not a manager might be making more money in other jobs which is entirely possible. But Exito and Carrefour non management jobs pay the minimum plus the standard benefits.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Peso 1400 by November" Feb 5, 2008

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Noelito40 says on Jun 18, 2008, 14:08:

I would be AMAZED if anyone working stocking shelves in somewhere like Carrulla or Exito is earning a cent more than the minimum wage ( I know of security staff in apartment blocks who are earning the minimum!!) and I´ve also heard about what jinskmeister posted that those who bag your groceries work for nothing but tips!!... something to bear in mind the next time you get your shopping bagged!

Noelito

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