Could you live on this salary?

I walked over to the Bible College where our colleague John Young supervises the African employees building the temporary dorm for the women students and what will eventually be the shop.  I asked John about the pay for the men and I was suprised at what they earn.  Evidently it is not off the mark for pay because they have no problem getting workers.  The top guy, Local John, who is the foreman makes P3000 per month.  That is around $510 per month and that is considered a great salary.  The other workers are paid P30 per day, $5.10.  They are paid weekly and we observed a couple of them coming up to John (International John) speaking with soft voices and out stretched hand--needing a few pula to get them through.  John carries extra pula in his pocket and he gives them 5 or 10 to see them through.  Then he records this information in his book so that he'll know what to pay them on payday.  Local John had needed P200 advance because his lady needed to buy gas for the cooker.  He told her to go get the gas or she wouldn't be eating anything later.  We observed that neither would he!!!  International John also gives them each P10 per day to purchase lunch.  That is about $1.70.

The people who earn these amounts of money live in typical African villages right in the city.  They are what we might call shanty towns.  I still have not had the opportunity to get pictures of these yet.

Get gas or you won't be eating