Higher minimum wages sought

SEMARANG, Central Java: The state-sponsored All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) proposed that the provincial administration increase the minimum daily wage from Rp 2,700 ($1.2) to Rp 3,400.

Tambah Soedjio, the local chairman of SPSI, said that the 25.9 percent increase would help laborers live better, adding that Rp 2,700 was lower the province's minimum standard of living of Rp 3,150.

Thousands of workers throughout Central Java have staged protests to demand higher salaries over the last two years.

Tambah said that higher salaries will help ease tensions in the province, calling on employers to increase their workers' salaries before April 1995. (09)