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Gingane, Magpatoc

1. The Problem and Review of Related Literature

1.1. Background of The Study

In spite the never descending unemployment rate, the contemporary period still offers an

optimistic chance that varying jobs are present from the different corners of community life

especially when one knows where to look. This goes to say that any skilled and abled person

with a taste of zeal can definitely find and learn a decent source of income. The jobs procure

wages that makes up for the daily subsistence of families. Aside from the categories of public

and private employment, the wage varies per region for there exist a decentralization of wages

depending on the labour market circumstances. The distinction of these wages per region is a

task given to the Department of Labor and Employment. Hence, it is known that minimum

wages vary significantly from one region to another.

The determination of minimum wage rates of a certain region is rationally assessed. In

pursuant to Republic Act No. 6727, the mandate of the State is ‘to rationalize the fixing of

minimum wages and to promote productivity-improvement and gain-sharing measures to ensure

a decent standard of living for the workers and their families to guarantee the rights of labor to its

just share in the fruits of production; to enhance employment generation in the countryside

through industry dispersal; and to allow business and industry reasonable returns on investment,

expansion and growth' (Wage Rationalization Act 1989).

The contextualize setting of this study is Caraga Region, Butuan City in particular. Under RA

6727, the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board-Caraga Region has continually

underwent an evaluation of the socio-economic conditions of the region which led to the increase

of the minimum wage. Moreover, the Act aimed at ensuring a decent standard of living for the
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workers and their families. In doing so, the researchers deem to assess the quality of living of

the private minimum wage earners and their families. The assessment will revolve on both the

subjective and objective quality of life of the poor families who’s relied on a family member

gaining a minimum wage.

1.2. Review of Related Literature

The literatures affiliated with the conducted research will be examined.

1.3. Theoretical Framework

Quality of Life

Quality of Life (as cited in Kerce, 1992) overlaps with a number of terms, including "well-

being," "social indicators," and "way of life" among others. Quality, here, is an evaluative

element that when applied to life becomes the life in a particular social setting. Quality of Life as

an assessment of the experience of the individual is closely related to the quality of his

experience to groups in the society. It consists in the obtaining of the necessary conditions for

happiness in a given society or region (Michalos, 2002). Due to the varying definition of Quality

of Life, it is of paramount significance to refer it as

“a class of multidimensional theoretical concepts in which

objective living conditions are observed in combination with
subjective dimensions of individual well-being to analyze the
welfare level of individuals, groups, and nations from cross-
national perspectives” (Krause, 2015).
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Though the Quality of Life appears to have varying concepts which makes it ambiguous, it is

usually to be measured by means of two indicators namely Subjective and Objective. Quality of

Life is basically a combination of both indicators.

Objective QOL and Subjective QOL

Objective quality of life is quality of life measured by means of objective criteria, social

and economic indicators, without recourse to personal experience and individual perceptions of

environment. Subjective quality of life is the perception of well-being and evaluation of own

position in life based on experience. The main object of the studies of objective quality of life is

an external environment of quality of life and livability of environment. It is evaluated by means

of social and economic indicators, their systems and composite indexes. On the other hand,

studies of subjective quality of life focus on individually experienced quality of life, which is

often measured by means of qualitative methods (Pukeliene & Starkauskiene, 2011, p. 148).

The above contention reveals two levels of Quality of Life, the individual’s subjective

and objective experience as relatable to the experiential quality of life in the society at large.

Delhey (as cited in Pukeliene & Starkauskiene, 2011, p. 148) illustrated the two levels:
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Table 1. Levels of Quality of Life

LEVEL OBJECTIVE SUBJECTIVE

INDIVIDUAL Objective living conditions Subjective well-being (e.g.

(e.g. income) satisfaction with income)

SOCIETAL Quality/liveability of society Liveability of society

(e.g. income disparities) (perceived importance of

disparities)

The table shows that Objective Quality of Life complements with thw Subjective Quality

of Life indicators. In that, Objective QOL include tangible aspects such as the individual’s social

or physical contextual circumstances. Whereas, the Subjective Quality of Life involve one’s

contextual opinion of life’s quality based on his understanding of emotional and physical well-

being.
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1.4. Conceptual Framework

MINIMUM WAGE OF GASOLINE

WORKERS IN BUTUAN ITY

ASSESSMENT:
QUALITY OF LIFE
(OBJECTIVE & SUBJECTIVE)

SUSTAINABILITY
(INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY)
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1.5. Statement of the Problem

The minimum wage of any areas aims to ensure a standard of living. Hence, in establishing

sustainability of the minimum wage, the researchers will raise the following questions:

1. What facets of minimum wage sustain a quality of life?

2. How can the indicators of QOL assess the minimum wage?

3. When can the minimum wage sustain the family’s quality of living?

1.6. Hypothesis

It is hypothesized that the Minimum Wage of Gasoline Workers in Butuan City is

insufficient in Sustaining Family’s Quality Living.

1.7. Significance of the Study

This is a study that, by examining the minimum wage from the perspective of the approach

of Quality of Life, will help all those with an interest in understanding socioeconomic status. As

such, the results of this study will contribute to the students and those of the faculty of the college

of law, in order for them to be more conflict sensitive to the issues relating to the minimum wage

earners specifically of the gasoline workers and may formulate actions to address such matters; to

the minimum wage earners that they may educate themselves of the laws surrounding their rights

to social and government assistance; and to the readers to be more economically and socially aware

of the implications of the minimum wage to the quality living of a person.

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1.8. Scope and Delimitation

The study restricts its focus on the assessment of the minimum wage and its sustainability.

The researchers limit the study on the grounds that sustainability of minimum wage can be

measured through the indicators of the Quality of Life.

The locality of the study is Butuan City, Agusan del Norte. The respondents are the

minimum wage earners of gasoline stations. For the intent of assessment, these respondents are

bread winners in their respective families.

1.9. Definition of Terms

Minimum Wage – The minimum amount of remuneration that an employer is required to pay wage

earners for the work performed during a given period, which cannot be reduced by collective

agreement or an individual contract (International Labor Organization)

Quality Living – The quality of life is the degree to which the experience of an individual’s life

satisfies that individual’s wants and needs both physical and psychological. (Quality of Life:

Meaning, Measurement, and Models by Elyse W. Kerce)