Workers left to grin and bear planned minimum wage hike<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Workers in the greater Jakarta area who receive
\nthe minimum wage said on Tuesday a planned raise would make
\nlittle difference in their spending power due to the spiraling
\ncost of living.<\/p>\n
Interviewed by The Jakarta Post separately, casual laborers,
\nincluding factory workers, street sweepers and janitors, said
\nthey were dissatisfied with the proposed increase but had no
\noption other than to accept if they wanted to keep their job.<\/p>\n
They feared that rejecting the proposal amid continuing
\neconomic hardships could lead to them joining the ranks of the
\nunemployed.<\/p>\n
They told of scrimping and saving to survive, including
\nthrough bringing meals from home and making sure expenditures are
\nlimited to their basic needs.<\/p>\n
\"The living costs here for a single man like me is about Rp
\n250,000 (about US$35) at average per month,\" said Sugiarti, a
\nfactory worker in nearby Tangerang.<\/p>\n
\"If the new minimum wage is Rp 286,000 per month, it will not
\nmake any difference in my life.\"<\/p>\n
Another worker, Sadino, nodded in agreement.<\/p>\n
\"We don't have anything left at the end of each month for
\nsavings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Several janitors at the City Council complex said they were
\npaid below the minimum wage.<\/p>\n
Surya, who has worked for a cleaning service company for 10
\nyears, said he received Rp 165,000 per month.<\/p>\n
His colleague, Dian, added the company cut Rp 3,500 from their
\nwages for each day they missed work.<\/p>\n
Both men admitted that it was almost impossible to rely solely
\non their monthly income.<\/p>\n
\"We always bring our own lunch from home to cover our meal
\nexpenses,\" said Dian, saying a cup of instant noodles available
\nin the compound cost Rp 2,500.<\/p>\n
They depend on the generosity of city councilors, who often
\ngive them tips, Suryana said.<\/p>\n
\"Sometimes they ask us to run an errand for them and in return
\nthey give us small tip for our services,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"But most of the new councilors here are not as generous as
\ntheir predecessors.\"<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Manpower announced on Monday an increase in
\nthe official regional minimum wage level, ranging between 15
\npercent and 55 percent, from April 1. The level in Jakarta will
\nbe increased 23.81 percent to Rp 286,000, from Rp 231,000.<\/p>\n
Lower<\/p>\n
Two Central Jakarta street sweepers, who work for Sarana
\nOrgantama Resik, said they struggled to make ends meet each month
\non wages below the minimum level.<\/p>\n
Newly hired Fajar, 19, said he earned Rp 4,350 daily (Rp
\n130,500 per month). He said he spent Rp 1,000 daily on
\ntransportation from his home in Pondok Terong in Citayam, Depok,
\nand Rp 1,500 for lunch.<\/p>\n
The rest he saves to help finance his brothers' elementary
\nschool educations.<\/p>\n
He said his only choice was to continue working as a street
\nsweeper until he could find a better job.<\/p>\n
\"I plan to continue my studies later but my priority at the
\nmoment is to finance my two younger brothers' schooling.\"<\/p>\n
Titi S.P., who has been working as a street sweeper since last
\nAugust, earns Rp 8,900 per day.<\/p>\n
She spends Rp 1,000 for the daily return bus fare from her
\nhouse in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, Rp 2,000 for lunch and
\nsome Rp 15,000 for her family of three teenagers.<\/p>\n
\"I want my sons to finish their studies,\" she said, adding
\nthat her husband was a public minivan driver.<\/p>\n
\"I have to spend the money carefully so that it will last for
\none month.\"<\/p>\n
In Tangerang, the branch of the All-Indonesia Workers Union
\n(SPSI) rejected the 17 percent minimum wage raise to be
\nimplemented in both the regency and mayoralty.<\/p>\n
\"It's such a small amount that it undermines the laborers
\nhere. We want similar raise to what was given to Jakarta,\" SPSI's
\nAgus Djaya said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"We will visit Bandung on Wednesday to meet with Governor
\nNuriana about the matter.\"<\/p>\n
SPSI's Tangerang chairman Hermanto Achmad said a commensurate
\nraise to Jakarta's 23.81 percent, or Rp 286,000, must be given
\nequally to workers in Greater Jakarta, spanning Tangerang, Bogor
\nand Bekasi.<\/p>\n
\"It's most unfair,\" he said, adding that daily living expenses
\nin Tangerang were similar to Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Some companies operating in Tangerang say they are considering
\nrequesting a postponement of the raise for their enterprises.<\/p>\n
\"We'll evaluate the matter. The company is still suffering
\nfrom effects of the high-cost bureaucracy and we don't have such
\na huge budget,\" said Soedjoedono, president director of footwear
\nmanufacturer PT Garuda Indawa.<\/p>\n
The chief of staff at another footwear firm PT Tae Wha,
\nDjajadi, also said his company would evaluate the matter but
\n\"will comply with the government's decision\".<\/p>\n
\"The raise (in Tangerang) from the minimum Rp 230,000 to Rp
\n286,000 is normal.\" (05\/06\/41\/edt\/ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/workers-left-to-grin-and-bear-planned-minimum-wage-hike-1447893297",
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