Cleaners get Rp 1,100 raise

RANGKASBITUNG, West Java: Lebak regency officials agreed yesterday to increase the salary of sanitation workers here from Rp 2,000 to Rp 3,100 per day.

According to Antara, Lebak regent Didin Muchdjidin said the decision was part of his office's continued desire to improve the welfare of 40 sanitation workers in the regency, which includes street sweepers and garbage collectors.

However, the pay raise only came about following a notable demonstration in front of the local councillors' office last month and a strike which sufficiently "stunk-up" the area for several days.

The sanitation workers had initially demanded they be paid Rp 5,000 per day.

"They should accept this pay raise because it is the best we can do with the limited budget we have," said one regency official.