Gerardus was lost in thought — as an employee of Kalimanis, he was fretting over his misfortune. While his family's monthly expenses on such necessities as food, clothing and schooling remains unchanged, Gerardus has not been paid since August. "We've gone into debt just to buy food," he lamented.

Several of his coworkers have met with even worse fates. Some have been forced to leave their homes after being unable to make monthly rental pa