My name is Ragie Codinera, 28 years old I live in Lawang Bato, Valenzuela City Philippines. I have a live- in partner and we already have two beautiful daughters. Currently I am working as a “watchman” it is like a security guard inside the school.

My experienced at work, I was a pedicab driver for almost 7 years I started working when I was 18 years old. As a pedicab driver, my income daily is only 300 pesos for 16 hours of work, I don’t have social benefits like for my health and for the security of my future and my family. This is one of the reasons why I decided to look for another job inside my community, because my income daily is not enough for the basic needs and expenses of my family.  I have realized that, being an informal worker is very hard because I have to endure the pain for driving pedicab for almost 16 hours every day but getting a very small income, and also, I cannot give more time for the family specially to the two daughters.

Currently, my situation at work as a “watchman” at School in my community is I am working for 8 hours every day and 5 days in a week, my salary monthly is 9,360 pesos without benefits like SSS, Phil health and PAGIBIG. My salary is not enough for the needs of my family, that’s why I am doing an extra job as electrician and sometimes as a construction worker during my free time as a “watchman”. I am also a contractual at work my contract is for 6 months and after 6 months there’s no guarantee that I can continue my work, they have also policy for “No work no pay.”

Behind all my hard work in life, even my situation at work is hard and my income is not enough for all the needs of my family I am still trying to go on and be strong for my family specially for my daughters. Because my daughters are my motivation in life to strive more and dream more.

I am also grateful that I became part of the YCW movement, because they teach me a lot about my rights as worker and they help me understand my situation. They help me for my study to gain knowledge and skills as worker that I can now using as electrician. Salamat at Mabuhay!!!

 “Ang Trabaho na my konting buhay.” Ragie