Gorontalo sets new wage

Gorontalo sets new wage

GORONTALO, Gorontalo (JP): The Gorontalo Provincial Wage
Council set the new provincial minimum wage level at Rp 375,000
per month on Wednesday, an increase of Rp 3,000, or 0.8 percent.

The new wage rate was introduced after lengthy negotiations
involving the local administration, the provincial branch of the
All Indonesian Labor Union (SPSI) and the provincial chamber of
commerce and industry.

The head of the provincial Manpower Office, Etty Yusnaini, who
is also the head of the Wage Council, said that the new wage
level should have been introduced months earlier. "But Gorontalo
is a new province (established early this year). The new Wage
Council had to start its operations from scratch," said Etty.

Gorontalo SPSI chairman Adhan Dambea said that all companies
operating in Gorontalo had to abide by the decision and pay their
workers at the new rate.

"Please, no more talking. All companies have to implement the
new ruling soon. Over the next six months, no company may pay its
workers less than (the new rate), otherwise we will file a law
suit against them," said Dambea.

Representing the province's businessmen, chairman of the
provincial chamber of trade and industry Adnan Lahusin said that
he was satisfied with the new wage. --JP