Without the labor of this category of workers, our life would be impossible, despite the fact that many look at them with disdain. Therefore, it is interesting to take a look at one discussion on 'X'.
The discussion was initiated by Sandis: "A young guy - a shovel operator. He jumps into the pit, throws everything that needs to be thrown, works with a shovel, covers wells, and so on. At home, there is a wife and a child.
He lives in a rented apartment, while his wife and child are at home, and the child is still small. Today, the salary is 1180… And we are still surprised that there is no one to work…"
In the comments, people hastened to discuss both whether such compensation is sufficient and what 'normal salary' means today in Latvia if a person needs to support a family, pay for rented housing, and cover everyday expenses.
"Does the guy with the shovel earn 1180 euros a day?" ironically asks Maris Kaminskis, obviously emphasizing that such an amount, if it refers to a month, does not seem large given today's high cost of living.
Another commentator advises the young man to change his profession: "Unless this is the dream of his life - to work in this job."
The discussion also included people sharing their experiences of wages in other sectors. Dagnis Vasiljevski writes: "I have nothing to hide. Today I just looked at my pay slip. Before tax deductions, I have 1490 euros. About 400 euros goes to taxes. I am considered a sector manager. Lately, I have been looking at job vacancies more and more often. Fortunately, both of us work in the family; otherwise, it would be hard to make ends meet."
Also, a teacher points out that after receiving higher education multiple times and working full-time in a medium-sized school, her salary is 1060 euros. "To work in a school, I had to get higher education three times," she writes.
In the comments, there was also a question about whether the mentioned 1180 euros is gross or net salary. In response to the question "Gross or net? In both cases… tough," Sandis replied: "The second option." This means it can be understood that it refers to the 'take-home' salary.
However, opinions were not unanimous. Some commentators emphasized that for a person without higher education, such a salary is not so bad. "Actually, for a person without education, this is a normal salary. The other question is what one can afford with it, whether one can support a family, and so on. But if we look at the average salaries in Latvia, this is a decent salary for a laborer," writes one commentator.
Someone else asks: "Can you show me a country where a shovel operator is paid much more than the minimum wage?"
In turn, other participants in the discussion point out that the problem is not only in the specific profession but also in the broader context of the labor market and tax system. One commentator writes: "There is nothing to be surprised about. In our country, there are high taxes on salaries. OECD experts have long recommended reducing the tax burden on low salaries and increasing disproportionately low taxes for entrepreneurs."
The discussion also featured more harsh opinions. For example, one commentator asked what prevented the young man from studying in school and obtaining an education or profession. She also added that children should be planned when a person can afford it.
In response, Sandis said that perhaps the greater pain is about those who can afford children but choose not to have them.
This discussion highlights an uncomfortable question: how much does society truly value people who perform physically demanding, dirty, and necessary work? On one hand, commentators discuss education, choice, and 'normal salary.' On the other hand, the question remains whether a person with such income can confidently support a family, pay rent, and feel valued.
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