Negotiating salary and benefits in the Philippines

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Bhavna Team

Member since 01 June 2015

BhavnaTeam09 October 2019 06:53:22

40424

Hello everyone,

Better job prospects in the Philippines can most certainly be an incentive to leave your country of origin. Securing a contract with the right salary and benefits for you can be crucial to make your move successful.

Is salary and benefits negotiation regarded as common practice in the Philippines? If yes, how should you go about negotiating your package (during the hiring process, on a monthly/yearly basis...)?

What do you expect to be included in terms of benefits in your package? Which benefits do you deem necessary in the Philippines?

Is tax on the salary of an expat applicable in the Philippines or do you have to turn to tax bodies in your country of origin to pay your taxes?

Do the exchange rates of currencies impact your salary as an expat?

Looking back, are there some changes you would have made during the negotiation of your salary and benefits package?

Thank you for sharing your experience,

Bhavna

kindawn Active member

Member since 28 August 2017

kindawnActive member11 October 2019 01:49:29

If you are working in the PH, your company should deduct your income tax in the PH. And it will reflect through a form called BIR 2306. Make sure your company can provide you this if they deduct tax on your payslip.

Another thing is that make sure your company is able to apply for work visa for you. The process of applying for work visa can take sometimes- 3-4 months. All fees should be covered by the company.

Benefit negotiation is just like anywhere else in the world. If the company offers health card, that would be useful if you get some sickness in the PH as the health card will cover all or some of the medical expenses.

daenr Active member

Member since 19 April 2019

daenrActive member14 October 2019 18:18:55

In general, the pinoy society doesn't negotiate on much of anything. Their odd almost non-negotiable process of 'best price' or 'last offer' helps the owner/manager call the shots: in a society where most people are victimized or oppressed, the one with the greater amount of perceived (or real) power thinks he or she is calling the shots.
So in salary negotiation, if you are dealing with a pinoy, take it or leave it, because their ability to even negotiate is truncated by these strange customs often = no deal.
Conversely, if dealing with a white owner/boss, it's likely one can negotiate on salary and benefits and performance reviews/raises as part of the package, but one has to be comfortable negotiating, sth that many expats find difficult to do.
How to sidestep it all?
Create your own gig if possible, and work out your life less under the thumb of any boss. Be your own.

BellaMae Member

Member since 27 September 2019

BellaMaeMember14 October 2019 23:19:19

Thank you for this, I hope to learn some great insights in this matter.

Jazz14mg Active member

Member since 13 July 2017

Jazz14mgActive member15 October 2019 01:59:34

Very true Daenr, work your own business without the problems of others abusing the situation...

Glen Adkins Active member

Member since 19 February 2018

Glen AdkinsActive member15 October 2019 04:56:24

The expats I know have given up on finding work in the Philippines. Working for 10 cents on the dollar just isn't worth it. Those I know that have started their own businesses; closed their own businesses. Extra. "required" payments to local bureaucrats makes owning your own business unprofitable.

powerkiter120 Active member

Member since 28 August 2016

powerkiter120Active member28 October 2019 06:54:05

Unless your working for a multi national paying western salary forget it
The easiest way to make $1million in the Philippines come with $5million
If you open a business 10 more will open under cutting you . Then there is the corrupt barangay officials.
It's difficult to have a decent income let the wife open sari sari store and make 1000 php a day
Retire in the Phil's the best option with plenty of saved cash

mugtech ViP

Member since 08 September 2012

mugtechViP28 October 2019 21:53:26

4472

powerkiter120 wrote:
It's difficult to have a decent income let the wife open sari sari store and make 1000 php a day

With a gross profit of about 10%, if sales were 1,000 pesos/day the profit would be 100 pesos/day before other operating expenses. Talk about cut throat businesses, there are 18 sari sari stores within a mile of where we live in Santa, Ilocos Sur.

powerkiter120 Active member

Member since 28 August 2016

powerkiter120Active member29 October 2019 11:53:03

It's more fun in the Philippines lol

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