Tough business times felt by working mother

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 25 February 2017, 12:00AM

The challenging business environment of today is not just being felt by the executives and the high-flying officials running government ministries and big corporate companies.

The impact is especially severe at the bottom of the ladder where people on the factory floor are being forced to work less days as their bosses try to balance the books. 

Mother of three, Sisi Pito, knows the feeling. 

The 39-year-old from Malie works for a local cake shop and she has gone from working seven days a week now to just three days.

The reduction of days has ultimately affected her ability to provide for her family.

 “I have three children. Two are in school,” she said.

“I work while my husband stays home to look after our kids and help out every now and then with our family.”

Money is constantly an issue for Sisi’s family.

 “You know with what I earn from work, we struggle to stretch that money so that it can cover the whole week,” she said. 

“It’s really hard when there are a lot of things to do with the money that we have. I have children, they need to go to school and it is also my responsibility to feed them.

“But you see, we also have other obligations like church donations, village matters as well as family fa’alavelave. These are things we cannot say no to.”

At work, Sisi said her employer has recruited more people, which has forced her to work fewer days.

“It’s even harder now because we get paid for only three days,” she said.

“Sometimes when work is busy we work over time but that’s rare now. For me I try to do everything to provide for my family even though it’s tough.” 

Sisi said her children motivate her.

She works hard because she doesn’t want her family especially her children to experience the life she hadin the past.

“I want my children to have a better life, not a life where they struggle to earn money at a very young age for food and other basic things in life.”

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 25 February 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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