This Cozumel News Edition is actually part of the “Aurita’s Cozumel Corner” that did not make it into the October 6th issue. Once again, my apology to the people that tried to read the Sun immediately after it came out, it was incomplete and unedited. I accidentally pushed the publish button instead of the save draft button and did not realize the error for an hour. As you are aware The Cozumel Sun has a totally new look and every section is being reviewed and updated. I have completed the Volunteer Opportunities section shown below. (Note, there are new economic numbers for 2016 Mexico wages and cost of living.)
The Cozumel Sun Volunteer Opportunities section has the following sub-sections: Cozumel Blood Drive, Cozumel CAM School for Disabled Children, The Cozumel Chrysalis Group, Cozumel Sea Turtle Rescue, Friends of Cozumel, The Humane Society of Cozumel, Cozumel Juan Pablo II Senior Home, Rancho Universo Horse Sanctuary & Riding Therapy, and Three Kings Day Toy Drive. First, I want to ask representatives of these charities please review and send me updates and current photographs. Please send fundraising event information throughout the year to announce in TCS and Facebook pages FREE of Charge. If your charity is not listed, please send me the description, contact information, and photographs, I will happily list your charity in this section.
New this week is Cozumel Recipe of the Week found on TCS Home page. I selfishly started with one of my favorite, Yucatan Pollo Pibil. Feel free to send in your favorite recipe! Coming next, Cozumel Attractions and Mexico Travels. Thank you readers for your patience as I work to improve The Cozumel Sun to meet all your needs.
The Cozumel Sun Fundraisers: Christmas is coming! I need help providing for our Finca Family. I need gifts for a 9-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy. Every year we put two gift boxes together to help the family. One basket with non-perishable food items for the family and in the other Cat food, Dog food, and feed bags for their chickens and turkeys that they raise to subsidize their income. They have two large dogs that protect their property and adopted an abandoned 3-legged cat. Any amount of help that you can give us will be greatly appreciated!
We need garage sale items for our On-Going Garage sale! Drop stuff off at our location anytime day or night or give us a call, we will come to you to collect your donations. Last but not least, support Papeleria y Novedades Mama Lilly! We have office and school supplies, some clothing, gift items, make copies, print, laminate, computer and long distance telephone access. We are located on 35 Ave, Sur between Calles 17 and 15 Bis, Colonia Independencia. We are open 7 days a week and the store is located at our family home. My email is auraholguin@thecozumelsun.com and the telephones are 987-120-5903 and 987-118-4453.
Opportunities to Volunteer & Donate
In this, the Volunteer Opportunities Section of TCS I have listed some of the many opportunities available to give back to the Cozumel Community. There are some very active groups like the Rotary Club and Cozumel Red Cross that are supported by the Cozumel Elite that I have not listed. Likewise, there is an Orphanage in Cozumel that is completely funded and is in no need of assistance. If you are aware of a charity that you wish me to include, please provide the information and I will be glad to include it in the Volunteer Opportunities section of TCS.
No matter how small your monthly pension is, it is a fortune to the average Mexican family. There is no minimum hourly wage, there is a daily minimum of wage of $73.04 Mexican Pesos for a full day of work. At an exchange rate of 15.00, this comes to $4.86 U.S. per day. This month (September 2016) the exchange rate hit 20 pesos to 1 US Dollar; a day of work paid the equivalence of $3.65 U.S. dollars.! While in Cozumel go to any grocery store and figure out how to make a meal out of $73.04 pesos. Remember, since Cozumel is an island, everything is imported making it more expensive than in the mainland. The cost of gas, trucking and ferry are factored in and passed on to the consumer. The average prices shown below are lower than in Cozumel.
If you are a “legal” employee, your employer is paying into social security for you and you are enrolled in either the social security (IMSS) or another federally operated health plan. (That is another story!) Your work day is 8 hours if by day 7.5 hours if a night shift. If you are lucky enough to hold one of these contracted jobs, chances are you are working a second job to help make ends meet.
In Cozumel, the hiring stops at 35 years of age, there is no law against age discrimination. I am certain this is tied to the fact that the insurance required by law is based on age, the older you are, the higher the premium. This is why you see seniors at the grocery stores working for TIPS ONLY. Parking attendants and people offering to help carry the groceries are also there working for TIPS ONLY. You will see children in their school uniforms also working for tips.
There is an army of workers that are not contracted by anyone. Desperate to find employment, they work for less than the minimum wage, for longer hours, and some for tips only. These people have no health coverage or social security when they get older. These people are also the entrepreneurs you see selling anything they can think of to make a living.
The Mexican people are some of the hardest working people that I know. I have provided the figures on wages and the cost of living in the Volunteer Opportunities section so that you can do the math. There is no excuse for anyone living in Cozumel not giving back to the people that have welcomed us into their home. It does not have to be monetary, you can donate things you no longer need or use, volunteer your time, or volunteer your talents. Get out there and give!
General Workers Minimum Wages in Mexico January 2016
| Job Type | Minimum Wage per Day |
|---|---|
| General Workers |
73.04
|
Professional Workers Minimum Wages January 2016
| Job Type | Minimum Wage per Day |
|---|---|
| Masonry officer |
106.49
|
| Salesclerk in pharmacy and drugstores |
92.63
|
| Bulldozer and/or digger operator |
112.17
|
| Cashier of cash register |
94.46
|
| Bartenders |
96.65
|
| Carpenter |
106.49
|
| Carpenter – manufacture and repair of furniture, official |
104.51
|
| Chef, major in restaurants, taverns and other establishments preparing and selling food |
103.65
|
| Officer in making and repairing mattresses |
93.80
|
| Placement of mosaics and tiles worker |
99.90
|
| Plasterer in construction of buildings and houses |
94.33
|
| Cutter in workshops and factories manufacturing shoes, official |
91.75
|
| Sewing in garment factories or workshops |
90.50
|
| Sewing in making clothes at home |
93.20
|
| Chauffeur car parking attendant, valet parking |
95.25
|
| Truck driver in general |
104.55
|
| Cargo van driver |
101.25
|
| Operator of vehicles with crane |
96.20
|
| Dredge operator |
108.75
|
| Cabinetmaker in making and repairing furniture, official |
101.95
|
| Electrician, installer and repairer of electrical installations |
99.90
|
| Electrician for repair of cars and trucks |
101.00
|
| Electrician in the repair of electrical motors and / or generators in service workshops, official |
96.90
|
| Employee working in gondola, shelf or section in supermarkets |
88.60
|
| Warehouse manager |
92.20
|
| Salesclerk in hardware and ironmongery stores |
94.30
|
| Stoker for boilers |
97.70
|
| Gas station officer |
90.50
|
| Blacksmithing officer |
98.45
|
| Tinsmith in repairing cars and trucks |
100.30
|
| Mechanic for Lubricating cars, trucks and other motor vehicles |
91.30
|
| Poultry farm manager |
87.50
|
| Agricultural machinery operator |
102.75
|
| Official operator of woodworking machines in general |
97.70
|
| Mechanic for automobiles and trucks |
105.95
|
| Cutter in workshops and factories manufacturing shoes, official |
94.30
|
| Hair stylist and manicurist |
95.25
|
| Car and truck painter |
102.58
|
| Painter – houses, buildings and constructions in general |
101.80
|
| Ironing in dry cleaning, laundry and similar establishments |
94.46
|
| Plumber in health facilities, official |
102.01
|
| Radio technician repairing electrical and electronic, official |
106.23
|
| Maid in hotels, motels and other lodging establishments |
96.07
|
| Salesclerk in stores of auto and truck parts |
100.55
|
| Repair of electrical household appliances, official |
218.87
|
| Graphic journalist in printed newspapers |
218.87
|
| Baker or pastry maker |
106.49
|
| Tailoring – home based |
107.07
|
| Auxiliary secretary |
110.14
|
| Welder with torch or electric arc |
105.24
|
| Butcher or butcher salesclerk |
99.25
|
| Auto upholsterer or car clothes officer |
100.97
|
| Upholstery furniture repair shop, officer |
100.97
|
| Social work, technical |
120.40
|
| Vaquero machine milker |
92.32
|
| Watchman |
94.30
|
| Salesclerk of household appliances |
97.11
|
| Cobbler in shoe repair shops, official |
95.60
|
Source
Notes / Footnote
- According to the Federal Labour Law Article 83, the salary may be fixed per unit time, per unit of work, commission, lump sum or otherwise. However, legal minimum wages in Mexico are declared on daily basis.(refer to Media Bulletin Dt. 18 Dec 2010)
- Article 61 defines the maximum duration of the day is: eight hours the day, seven the night and seven thirty when mixed. Also as per article 85 of the Labour Law, salary paid to a worker (not less than minimum wage) should be based on a normal work day of 8 hrs or 7.5 night hrs.
- This page is maintained by MiSalario.org and WageIndicator Foundation.
Source: COMISIÓN NACIONAL DE LOS SALARIOS MÍNIMOS
| Restaurants | [ Edit ] Avg. | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant | 80.00 MXN | |
| Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course | 400.00 MXN | |
| McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) | 80.00 MXN | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) | 20.00 MXN | |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 40.00 MXN | |
| Cappuccino (regular) | 33.64 MXN | |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) | 11.41 MXN | |
| Water (0.33 liter bottle) | 9.16 MXN | |
| Markets | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Milk (regular), (1 liter) | 15.09 MXN | |
| Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) | 23.98 MXN | |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 16.13 MXN | |
| Eggs (12) | 25.56 MXN | |
| Local Cheese (1kg) | 88.54 MXN | |
| Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) | 78.86 MXN | |
| Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) | 120.71 MXN | |
| Apples (1kg) | 31.63 MXN | |
| Banana (1kg) | 14.85 MXN | |
| Oranges (1kg) | 13.42 MXN | |
| Tomato (1kg) | 17.42 MXN | |
| Potato (1kg) | 17.28 MXN | |
| Onion (1kg) | 16.35 MXN | |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 11.61 MXN | |
| Water (1.5 liter bottle) | 13.29 MXN | |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | 120.00 MXN | |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) | 17.64 MXN | |
| Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) | 30.67 MXN | |
| Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) | 48.00 MXN | |
| Transportation | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| One-way Ticket (Local Transport) | 7.00 MXN | |
| Monthly Pass (Regular Price) | 300.00 MXN | |
| Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) | 25.00 MXN | |
| Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) | 8.00 MXN | |
| Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) | 119.00 MXN | |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 13.83 MXN | |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) | 250,000.00 MXN | |
| Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) | 256,175.00 MXN | |
| Utilities (Monthly) | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Basic (Electricity, Heating, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment | 716.08 MXN | |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) | 1.53 MXN | |
| Internet (10 Mbps, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | 405.94 MXN | |
| Sports And Leisure | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | 637.18 MXN | |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) | 222.45 MXN | |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat | 68.00 MXN | |
| Clothing And Shoes | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) | 720.17 MXN | |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) | 617.81 MXN | |
| 1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | 1,175.13 MXN | |
| 1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes | 1,045.80 MXN | |
| Rent Per Month | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre | 4,722.15 MXN | |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre | 3,113.98 MXN | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre | 10,247.37 MXN | |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre | 6,794.22 MXN | |
| Buy Apartment Price | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre | 16,413.79 MXN | |
| Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | 11,854.89 MXN | |
| Salaries And Financing | [ Edit ] Avg. | |
| Average Monthly Disposable Salary (Net After Tax) | 10,042.48 MXN | |
| Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly | 11.11 |
Related Posts and Pictures:
Cozumel Youth Program Frees Baby Turtles – 2013
Cozumel Humane Society Halloween Party – 2012
Cozumel Rancho Universal – 2013
Kelley’s 5th Annual Christmas Party – 2011
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