Employers guilty of underpaying workers: Activists<\/p>\n
Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Labor activists have accused employers and the government of
\ntreating workers inhumanely by underpaying a great number of
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Jacob Nuwa Wea, chairman of the Confederation of All-
\nIndonesian Workers Union (KSPSI), said the recent massive labor
\ndemonstrations were an expression of frustration over poor work
\nconditions and unfair treatment.<\/p>\n
\"In fact, most workers are still underpaid, as reflected in
\nthe low wage levels in almost all provinces and regencies. It is
\nimpossible for a single worker in the East Java regency of Madiun
\nto meet his\/her daily needs with the monthly minimum wage of Rp
\n300,000 (US$30) or another single worker in North Sumatra with Rp
\n550,000. The amount is just enough to cover their monthly
\ntransportation costs to their workplace,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea, a former manpower minister, was speaking on Tuesday
\nat a tripartite summit between labor unions, the government and
\nemployers.<\/p>\n
Workers in North Sumatra, West Java, Banten and East Java
\nrecently staged rallies to protest the newly set minimum wages,
\nwhich will become effective on Jan. 1.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea said labor unions could not fight for a significant
\nincrease in minimum wages because tripartite negotiations on
\nminimum wages were dominated by employers and the government.<\/p>\n
\"Labor unions have given up as the government has taken the
\nemployers' side,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Rekson Silaban, chairman of the Federation of Indonesian
\nProsperity Trade Unions (KSBSI), said the low wage levels
\nillustrated that both the government and employers had ignored
\nthe 2003 Labor Law, which stipulates that minimum wage levels
\nshould be equal to what is called humane living needs (KHL).<\/p>\n
\"We (the national tripartite body) have agreed to set 46
\nparameters to set KHL, but the minimum wage levels have remained
\nlow because there is no political commitment to push the wage
\nhigher,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said there was a trend among employers to put new employees
\non contract or to outsource work to other companies to reduce
\nlabor costs.<\/p>\n
Sofyan Wanandi, chairman of the Indonesian Employers
\nAssociation (Apindo), declined to comment on the low wage levels
\nbut instead said employers and workers should intensify bipartite
\nnegotiations to settle disputes peacefully and to avoid labor
\ndismissals that would increase unemployment.<\/p>\n
\"The government should revise the labor law to attract more
\nforeign labor-intensive investment to help ease unemployment,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Nuwa Wea urged the government to make a new law on the
\nnational wage system to narrow the widening gap in the current
\nremuneration system.<\/p>\n
\"It is quite unfair that a single worker is paid Rp 300,000
\nmonthly while the central bank governor is paid Rp 230 million a
\nmonth. Expatriates are also paid higher than locals,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/employers-guilty-of-underpaying-workers-activists-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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