Minimum wage rise fails to impress most workers<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Most workers have shown no enthusiasm over the
\ngovernment's recent announcement of wage increases, saying the
\nincrease would not really help them met their daily needs.<\/p>\n
Ani, 21, and Wawan, 25, two workers of a bra manufacturer in
\nKemandoran, West Jakarta, said the wage increase was
\ninsignificant.<\/p>\n
Ani and Wawan, who are paid Rp 4,700 (US$1.90) daily, said the
\namount was too low as the previous regional daily minimum wage
\nwas Rp 5,200 ($2.10).<\/p>\n
The government announced Wednesday that all regional minimum
\nwages were to be raised by 10 percent. The minimum monthly wage
\nin Greater Jakarta (including Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi) would
\nincrease from Rp 156,000 (US$68) to Rp 172,500 ($75).<\/p>\n
\"That's why we are not overly delighted. Moreover, it is as
\nyet only an announcement. We have not received the increase.<\/p>\n
\"We are always trying to find ways to make our tiny income
\nsupport us. It is very hard,\" said Ani, who graduated from an
\neconomic high school at Magetan, East Java, in 1994.<\/p>\n
Wawan, a native Jakartan, said what he needed now was \"not to
\nbe jobless\". He said he was grateful to be working, although his
\nincome did not meet his basic needs.<\/p>\n
Other worker, Hartati, 20, of a garment factory in Nusantara
\nBonded Zone in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, said the increase
\nwould not change their lives.<\/p>\n
The elementary school graduate said the factory paid a daily
\nwage of Rp 5,300, which was more than the old regional minimum
\nwage.<\/p>\n
She said the slight increase would not change anything. \"It's
\nnothing special. But if on the promised day, April 1, the
\nmanagement does not give the increase, we certainly will go on
\nstrike,\" said Hartati.<\/p>\n
Her friend Yuni, 17, said the increased cost of daily needs
\nmade the hike in the minimum wage meaningless. \"We remain in the
\nsame condition. Nothing will change.\"<\/p>\n
Yuni, who plans to go to senior high school this year, said
\nshe would definitely seek a better job after her graduation.<\/p>\n
Observers<\/p>\n
Observers voiced understanding Saturday of the workers' cool
\nreactions, saying the new wage would not cover the prices of
\ngoods and foodstuff in the coming months.<\/p>\n
Faisal Basri, the head of the department of Development
\nEconomic Studies at the University of Indonesia, said the
\nincrease would \"mean nothing\" to the workers.<\/p>\n
The head of the labor division of the Indonesian Legal Aid
\nInstitute, Teten Masduki, shared the opinion, saying the increase
\nwould not help the workers cope economically.<\/p>\n
Quoting recent research conducted by various non-governmental
\norganizations, a bachelor worker spends an average of Rp 251,000
\n($107.20) a month, Teten said.<\/p>\n
The research also indicated that workers spend more than 60
\npercent of their income on food, he said, while inflation in food
\nprices exceeded 15 percent.<\/p>\n
\"After the increase in April this year, the workers will still
\nhave to find an extra Rp 79,000 ($33.30) to meet their monthly
\nneeds,\" Teten said.<\/p>\n
He said the decision to increase wages by 10.7 percent was
\nonly based on the average annual inflation of 6.4 percent. While
\nincreases in food prices and other basic needs were not taken
\ninto account, he said.<\/p>\n
Both Faisal and Teten said the wage hike was more a political
\nthan economical move.<\/p>\n
They said the general election, scheduled for May 29, might be
\nbehind the decision to increase wages. (07)<\/p>",
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