Second Jobs and Economics in Ecuador
The students I’m now teaching here in Ecuador, the Air Traffic Controllers of Guayaquil, are a fascinating bunch. Of the 55 or so we are teaching English to, all are quite intelligent. But their economic condition is interesting.
The average wage in Ecuador is about $170 a month, depending on whose statistics you believe. There are advertisements for office workers at $200 a month, or part time store clerks at $6 a day. Most families must have several members working to make it. Dad works two or three jobs, Mom one, and usually the kids are expected to do something to bring in money. It is not unusual to see kids on the streets hawking candy, or 10-year-old boys bagging groceries at Mi Comisariato (My Commissary).
The Air Traffic Controllers go through a rigorous education and training process, with only a small chance to be chosen. If they are chosen they have to go through another rigorous certification process to be hired. If they are fortunate enough to be hired their wage starts at $600 a month and over the years increases to about $800 to $1,000. So they are quite well paid by Ecuadorian standards. People don’t quit their jobs. They stay on for years, decades. The boss of the local station, Bruno, has been an Air Traffic Controller for over forty years. The last time they hired a new Air Traffic Controller was four years ago. That is zero turnover on a staff of almost 75 controllers over four years. Amazing numbers by Western standards.
And almost all have second jobs. But the second jobs are, well, not what a Westerner would consider a “Second” job.
One is a working veterinarian – with a busy practice treating large animals on the farms and haciendas at the edges of Guayaquil. Several are lawyers. Others own businesses. Several are teachers and professors. One teaches math in the morning at a primary school here in Guayaquil and works at night as an ATC.
And even though their pay is exceptional by Ecuadorian standards they are constantly complaining about the low pay.
I guess nothing ever changes, no matter where in the world you travel to, be it California or Guayaquil, Ecuador.
The average wage in Ecuador is about $170 a month, depending on whose statistics you believe. There are advertisements for office workers at $200 a month, or part time store clerks at $6 a day. Most families must have several members working to make it. Dad works two or three jobs, Mom one, and usually the kids are expected to do something to bring in money. It is not unusual to see kids on the streets hawking candy, or 10-year-old boys bagging groceries at Mi Comisariato (My Commissary).
The Air Traffic Controllers go through a rigorous education and training process, with only a small chance to be chosen. If they are chosen they have to go through another rigorous certification process to be hired. If they are fortunate enough to be hired their wage starts at $600 a month and over the years increases to about $800 to $1,000. So they are quite well paid by Ecuadorian standards. People don’t quit their jobs. They stay on for years, decades. The boss of the local station, Bruno, has been an Air Traffic Controller for over forty years. The last time they hired a new Air Traffic Controller was four years ago. That is zero turnover on a staff of almost 75 controllers over four years. Amazing numbers by Western standards.
And almost all have second jobs. But the second jobs are, well, not what a Westerner would consider a “Second” job.
One is a working veterinarian – with a busy practice treating large animals on the farms and haciendas at the edges of Guayaquil. Several are lawyers. Others own businesses. Several are teachers and professors. One teaches math in the morning at a primary school here in Guayaquil and works at night as an ATC.
And even though their pay is exceptional by Ecuadorian standards they are constantly complaining about the low pay.
I guess nothing ever changes, no matter where in the world you travel to, be it California or Guayaquil, Ecuador.
posted by Unknown at 8:17 AM
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