East Java issues circular on annual bonus

East Java issues circular on annual bonus

SURABAYA, East Java: In observance of the Idhul Fitri holidays
on Dec. 16-17, 2001 and Christmas, Governor Iman Utomo issued a
circular on Nov. 13, 2001, regulating that employers pay a one-
month salary as an annual bonus to their workers.

"Besides the obligatory annual bonus, employers are also
called on to provide basic commodities packages and
transportation payments for their workers," he said here on
Friday.

Muhammad Djaelani, chief of the local manpower and
transmigration ministry office, said that the governor also
regulated that the annual bonus should be paid at least seven
days before the religious celebrations.

"Muslim workers should receive the annual bonus seven days
before Idhul Fitri while Christian workers should receive it
seven days before Christmas," he said.

Djaelani said the provincial administration was yet to
announce the monthly minimum wages in the province because of
negotiations between local labor unions, the local branch of the
Indonesian Employers Association and the local government was
still under way.

The present regional monthly minimum wages in the province are
between Rp 441,000 (US$44.1) and Rp 453,000 ($45.3). --Antara