A reflection on value, work and dignity

Observer

29-05-2025

It is hard to live without a piece of bread. How can one feed a family? How can a future be built without a salary? These are not just questions; they are cries of millions who wake up each day trapped in a cycle where survival takes precedence over dreams.
In a quiet café on the edge of a bustling city, a conversation unfolded that left a lasting impression. A young graduate, full of hope yet weighed by despair, turned to his friend and said, "They offered me RO 400. I asked myself, is that what I'm worth?" His friend sighed. "That's all they give to every starter. You should take it."
Here lies the tragedy of our times, not in the number, but in the belief that worth should be defined by what is offered, not by what is brought to the table.
This is not a suggestion to reject jobs, nor a promotion of idleness or detached idealism. What must be advocated is simple but powerful: Never let others define your value. If an individual does not set his price, someone else will often set it far below what is deserved.
The prevailing system, corporate, capitalist, profit-driven, demands energy, creativity, time, and soul. And in return? It gives just enough to survive, never to thrive. Noam Chomsky once remarked, "The smart way to keep people passive and obedient is to strictly limit the spectrum of acceptable opinion." Today, that limitation extends to self-worth. Society has taught acceptance without questioning.
But one must pause. Reflect. If an offer is RO 400, how much value is actually being generated for the organisation? In many cases, an employee's ideas, execution, and presence generate five, ten, or even 20 times more than their compensation.
Paulo Freire in Pedagogy of the Oppressed argued that the greatest form of oppression is making people believe that their suffering is natural. That earning a low wage is just part of the process. That struggling is noble. But struggling without justice is not noble, it is exploitation.
There is a story worth sharing. Years ago, a young professional entered the job market with optimism and readiness to serve. An offer came, one that was far below what his qualifications and potential warranted. Still, it was accepted under the belief, "At least it's a start." That individual worked tirelessly, produced results, and brought innovation.
Yet the promotion never came. The salary hike never happened. Until a mentor once said, "If you price yourself cheap, don't expect the world to increase your rate."
That sentence was transformative.
To those reading this, especially those wondering if it's acceptable to say no to an underwhelming offer, know this: it is more than okay. It is right. Each person must calculate his rent, food and future. Ask: Can this salary support a family? Can peace be found knowing one is underpaid?
No individual was born to be a number on a payroll sheet. Every person is of potential and excellence. Walt Whitman once wrote, "I am large, I contain multitudes." Each human holds multitudes within. Never let a paycheque shrink the spirit.
The corporate world may not change overnight. But individual stories can. Change begins with one choice. One decision. One moment of courage to declare: I am worth more.
Let this message echo. Let the world be reminded of human values, not with arrogance, but with clarity and courage. And perhaps, others will follow. A movement may begin. A system may evolve, not just for today, but for all the generations yet to come.
Value must be honoured. Dignity must be priced right. And no one should ever settle for less than they truly deserve.
Mohammed Anwar Al Balushi
The writer works for Middle East College