Batam minimum wage rise proposed

Batam minimum wage rise proposed

BATAM, Riau: The Batam tripartite committee representing workers, employers and the local administration has proposed increasing the minimum wage on the island by 3.5 percent to Rp 555,000 per month (US$61.6) starting next year from the current level of Rp 535,000 per month.

The proposal will be submitted to the Riau governor for official approval before it is announced to the public by the end of the year.

The agreement was reached on Thursday after a long, open debate. But the All-Indonesian Trade Union (SPSI) walked out of the meeting and refused to sign the agreement.

However, the chief of the local manpower and transmigration office, Arifin Nasir, hailed the agreement, saying the decision was made democratically. --Antara