Dock workers urge revision of decree

Dock workers urge revision of decree

BATAM, Riau Islands: At least 1,000 dock workers staged a
protest on Tuesday in Batam, demanding that Governor Ismeth
Abdullah revoke a gubernatorial decree on the minimum wage.

In the protest, the second in the past month, the workers said
next year's Rp 635,000 minimum wage set in the decree was below
the estimated cost of living in the city. The recommended minimum
monthly wage for next year is 728,000 based on a survey conducted
by several labor unions in the city.

The protest by dock workers followed an earlier protest two
weeks ago held by some 8,000 workers in the steel industry in the
city. -- JP