BCA to hike wages after workers protest<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Some 1,000 Bank Central Asia (BCA) employees
\nrallied on Wednesday in front of the company's headquarters on
\nJl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, demanding more pay.<\/p>\n
The protesters, mostly wearing a red ribbon on their arm,
\narrived at 10 a.m. and gave speeches in the parking lot. Around
\n14 of them then met with the management.<\/p>\n
\"We demand a 30 percent to 50 percent wage hike,\" said the
\nspokesman of the workers' union, M. Bilal Idris, who works in the
\nmarketing department of the bank's Pasar Minggu branch.<\/p>\n
He said most of those on the protest worked as supervisors,
\noffice boys, messengers and drivers and were paid between Rp
\n500,000 to Rp 1,000,000 per month.<\/p>\n
\"The company granted an annual wage increase of 35 percent in
\nApril, but it is still not enough to support our families,\" said
\nBilal, adding that the union had tried to talk with executives at
\nthe company, but no decision had been made.<\/p>\n
The protest caused 21 branch offices to close temporarily. Its
\nJl. Sudirman office reopened at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n
After three hours of negotiation, the management met with the
\nprotesting employees on the parking lot and explained the results
\nof the discussion.<\/p>\n
\"We have reached an agreement with the employees to be
\ntransparent and open in this matter, especially on the budget,\"
\nsaid BCA director D.E. Sutijoso.<\/p>\n
He said the management had agreed to increase wages, but he
\ndeclined to mention the percentage approved by the company, which
\nwould be effective in its next year budget.<\/p>\n
\"It is not ethical to mention such figures, but we agreed to
\nrelocate some items in the planned budget for our employee's
\nwelfare,\" said Sutijoso.<\/p>\n
Union spokesman Bilal said that he was satisfied with the
\ndecision. He said the management had approved increases in
\nallowances such as transportation, which would add some Rp
\n300,000 to an employee's monthly wage packet starting September.<\/p>\n
The wage increase would be effective in January but would be
\npaid starting April.<\/p>\n
\"We must appreciate the willingness of the management to
\nlisten to our demands,\" Bilal said.<\/p>\n
Bibit Gunawan, an employee at a BCA branch in South Jakarta,
\nsaid, \"It's a win-win solution for all of us.\" (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bca-to-hike-wages-after-workers-protest-1447893297",
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