BCA to hike wages after workers protest
BCA to hike wages after workers protest
JAKARTA (JP): Some 1,000 Bank Central Asia (BCA) employees
rallied on Wednesday in front of the company's headquarters on
Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, demanding more pay.
The protesters, mostly wearing a red ribbon on their arm,
arrived at 10 a.m. and gave speeches in the parking lot. Around
14 of them then met with the management.
"We demand a 30 percent to 50 percent wage hike," said the
spokesman of the workers' union, M. Bilal Idris, who works in the
marketing department of the bank's Pasar Minggu branch.
He said most of those on the protest worked as supervisors,
office boys, messengers and drivers and were paid between Rp
500,000 to Rp 1,000,000 per month.
"The company granted an annual wage increase of 35 percent in
April, but it is still not enough to support our families," said
Bilal, adding that the union had tried to talk with executives at
the company, but no decision had been made.
The protest caused 21 branch offices to close temporarily. Its
Jl. Sudirman office reopened at 1 p.m.
After three hours of negotiation, the management met with the
protesting employees on the parking lot and explained the results
of the discussion.
"We have reached an agreement with the employees to be
transparent and open in this matter, especially on the budget,"
said BCA director D.E. Sutijoso.
He said the management had agreed to increase wages, but he
declined to mention the percentage approved by the company, which
would be effective in its next year budget.
"It is not ethical to mention such figures, but we agreed to
relocate some items in the planned budget for our employee's
welfare," said Sutijoso.
Union spokesman Bilal said that he was satisfied with the
decision. He said the management had approved increases in
allowances such as transportation, which would add some Rp
300,000 to an employee's monthly wage packet starting September.
The wage increase would be effective in January but would be
paid starting April.
"We must appreciate the willingness of the management to
listen to our demands," Bilal said.
Bibit Gunawan, an employee at a BCA branch in South Jakarta,
said, "It's a win-win solution for all of us." (07)