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