Unions ask for bigger wage rise<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Labor unions demanded City Governor Sutiyoso on Monday to
\nreview its decree on the 2003 provincial minimum wage which rules
\nan increase of 7 percent from the current Rp 590,000 to Rp
\n631,000 per month.<\/p>\n
The unions grouped under the Federation of Metal Industry
\nWorker Unions (FSPMI)'s city chapter, urged Sutiyoso to increase
\nthe wage to at least Rp 750,000 a month.<\/p>\n
\"If the decree was not reviewed, we will go on strike this
\nRamadhan fasting month,\" FSPMI's city chapter chairman Mudjiarno
\nsaid in a meeting at the City Hall.<\/p>\n
Mudjiarno was upset with the governor for signing the decree
\nbefore inviting or listening to the workers' input.<\/p>\n
He said the 7 percent increase was too small as the current
\ninflation rate had already reached more than 9 percent while next
\nyear's inflation was predicted to exceed 10 percent.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which was held by the city manpower Agency and
\nattended by about 100 workers and several employers, aimed to
\ninform the public about the decree.<\/p>\n
\"With this (small) increase, the administration only listened
\nto the employers' suggestions,\" Mudjiarno said.<\/p>\n
However, the city administration rejected the FSPMI's demand,
\nsaying that the decree had been discussed in a tripartite meeting
\nwhich involved union representatives.<\/p>\n
\"It was their own internal problem. We have discussed the
\nincrease with the union workers,\" head of the manpower office
\nBambang told reporters.<\/p>\n
He claimed most of the worker unions grouped under the
\nFederation of Indonesian Worker Unions (FSPSI)'s city chapter had
\nalready accepted the decree which will take effect in January.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has about three million workers and at least 600,000
\nunemployed people.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso earlier promised to invite worker unions before
\nsigning the decree last week. But, he said that wage increases
\nshould not be more than 10 percent.<\/p>\n
Although the decree was supported by the employers, many
\nbelieved it would not be effectively applied.<\/p>\n
This year, the city administration has approved dozens of
\ncompanies for not paying according to the official minimum wage
\ndue to lack of financial ability.<\/p>",
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