Gloomy outlook for workers next year

Gloomy outlook for workers next year

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

"Forget asking about how we're going to cope with the fuel price
hike. Just asking the government to increase our wages to meet
the minimum cost of living is difficult enough," complained
Iqbal.

"Our demand is for the government to increase the already
approved minimum wage by less than Rp 50,000 (US$5.56), but it's
very unlikely that it's going to happen."

Iqbal said the slight increase in the minimum wage -- from Rp
671,550 this year to Rp 711,843 starting Jan. 1, 2005 -- was
meaningless when compared to the 40 percent fuel price hike.

The fuel price hike will have a multiplier effect on prices of
basic commodities and transportation.

"Maybe we'll have to put up with starving a little more next
year," he joked.

Iqbal and other representatives of workers associations met
with the City Council's Commission E on people's welfare to
discuss their demands and also held protests in front of City
Hall.

Grouped as the Alliance of United Workers, at least 1,000
protesters demanded that Governor Sutiyoso revoke his ruling
issued three weeks ago raising the provincial minimum wage to Rp
711,843.

They called on Sutiyoso's administration to refer to the
minimum cost of living allowance (KHM) of Rp 759,532. The KHM was
based on a survey jointly made in July by tripartite group of the
administration, workers associations and employers associations
of the five city municipalities.

They cited Law No. 13/2003 on manpower and the constitution
which both stipulate that every citizen is entitled to a better
livelihood.

"We reject the new ruling because it goes against the law and
even the Constitution. We cannot tolerate such a glaring
violation," another protester said.

Three councillors on Commission E -- Ahmadi Hasan Ishak, Agus
Darmawan and Emma Suchaemah -- expressed their support for the
worker's demands.

Along with the protesters, they made a joint statement to
follow up Monday's meeting with another meeting on Wednesday with
Governor Sutiyoso.

Meanwhile, City Manpower Agency head Ali Zubeir admitted that
the new minimum wage did not anticipate the fuel price hike.

"Who can anticipate such an increase in the future? You must
know that the fuel price hike will also deal a severe blow to
employers with significant increases in operational costs. It
doesn't only affect workers," he said.

Zubeir insisted that the ruling was final and revoking the
decision would affect other provinces in the country, claiming
that those provinces use Jakarta's policy as a yardstick.

Governor Sutiyoso emphasized earlier that his administration
would not revoke the decision.

"I won't revoke it. If they (the workers) think that it
contains legal flaws, then please, take it to court."

Protesters said they would make a last ditch effort, including
to bringing a case to court.