24% urged for basic wage

24% urged for basic wage

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has proposed to the
Ministry of Manpower that the monthly minimum wage (UMR) in the
Jakarta area be increased by 24 percent, an official says.

"We submitted the proposal through the manpower ministry's
Jakarta office to obtain the minister's approval," the head of
the City Social Affairs Bureau, Silvia Murni, announced on Friday
after a meeting with officials of the manpower ministry's
national and Jakarta offices and labor unions at City Hall.

"If the proposal is approved, the regional minimum wage for
Jakarta will become Rp 286,000 (US$38.65) per month," she added.

Currently, the minimum wage for Jakarta is Rp 231,000 per
month. The current minimum wage was established on April 1 last
year.

Silvia said the decision to propose an increase in the monthly
regional minimum wage was made during the Friday morning meeting,
which was also attended by representatives of various
institutions as well as the business circle.

"The meeting was held in response to a request made by a
delegation from the Jakarta chapter of the All-Indonesia Workers
Union Federation (FSPSI) yesterday (Thursday).

Silvia also revealed that the proposed wage was still below
the monthly regional minimum living requirement (KHM) of Rp
351,000. The Central Bureau of Statistics sets the requirements
based on results of a series of censuses nationwide.

"We have also put the wage hike in accordance with neighboring
townships of Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, which propose a similar
24 percent hike in UMR," she added.

Currently, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi have a common monthly
regional minimum wage of Rp 230,000. (05)