West Java workers want more pay<\/p>\n
Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
Thousands of West Java factory workers, grouped under the
\nNational Workers Union (SPN), staged a five hour protest on
\nWednesday outside the West Java governor's office, demanding that
\nthe governor raise the minimum wage in the province.<\/p>\n
The protesters damaged the gate of the governor's office but
\ntheir attempts to occupy the office were thwarted by a police
\ncordon of hundreds of police personnel.<\/p>\n
After a scuffle with police personnel, several representatives
\nof the workers were allowed to talk with government officials and
\ncouncillors in the West Java Provincial Legislative Council
\nbuilding, which is next to the governor's office.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, the workers demanded that West Java Governor
\nDanny Setiawan set a single minimum wage that applies in all
\ncities in West Java. They urged the government to set a minimum
\nwage at least Rp 600,000 a month in every city in the province.<\/p>\n
They also said that there was currently a discrepancy among
\ncities in the province in term of the minimum wage.<\/p>\n
For 2005, the minimum wage in Ciamis and Banjar regencies is
\nset at Rp 408,500, the lowest minimum wage in the province. In
\nstark contrast, the highest is in Bekasi, where a worker will get
\nminimum wage of Rp 710,000 a month next year.<\/p>\n
"We demand that there be no great discrepancy between one city
\nand another, because the cost of living among cities in West Java
\nis quite similar," said Titin, a factory worker in Bandung
\nmunicipality.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, councillor Imas Masitoh promised workers that
\nthe provincial council would press the provincial government to
\nrevoke a gubernatorial decree that set the minimum wage for 2005
\nand that the governor should grant a higher minimum wage for
\nworkers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the manpower office at the provincial
\nadministration, Wahyumijaya, said in the meeting that the decree
\nwas final.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/west-java-workers-want-more-pay-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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