Ningrums new job in Kerobokan Bali

Ikas sister Ningrum came over this morning on her way to her new job at Body Works, a spa on Jl. Petitenget in Kerobokan. Ningrum is only 21 and has worked for the last couple of years in Ticket To The Moon, a chain of shops that sells hammocks and other flashy play stuff. Her last job paid a small wage, but had commission and it was easy. She used to be laying in a hammock whenever I went over there. The decision to change jobs was risky for her as it meant taking a 3-month probation and jumping into a new work environment with strangers. I think the change will be good. Here in Bali the norm is to be employed on a monthly salary and jumping into a new situation is a big commitment, blocking off other opportunities. For that reason it can be sometimes hard to get good staff on a part-time basis.

The average person in Kuta is getting 400,000-500,000rp per month and it is amazing they can actually survive on that. Handicraft vendors get 250,000rp per month plus a couple of nasi bunkus (packet rice) a day. They make their juice on the margin between what their boss wants for the items (t-shirts, shorts etc.) and what they actually sell them for.