'I skip breakfast, ride free on train to survive'
'I skip breakfast, ride free on train to survive'
Governor Sutiyoso has signed the decree for a new minimum wage
for next year amounting to Rp 631,000 per month, which is a 7
percent raise from the current wage of Rp 591,000. How do people
survive with such an amount of money? The Jakarta Post talked to
some of the workers.
Abdul, not his real name, 20, an employee of PT Resik
Cemerlang cleaning service company for three years. He is
currently assigned to work as a gardener at the Forestry
Ministry's Manggala Wanabakti building in Central Jakarta:
I'm glad to hear the 7 percent wage hike. At least I can hope
for a better income next year.
However, I cannot deny the fact that my company only pays me
some Rp 485,000 net a month, which is far lower than the regional
minimum wage, isn't it?
Worse still, the company never gives the employees any
transportation and meal allowances and gives no clear reasons.
I share a rented house in Pondok Ranji area, Tangerang, with a
friend and we have to pay Rp 170,000 monthly rent fee per month.
I force myself to save Rp 100,000 per month so as to be able to
go home for Idul Fitri to my hometown in Central Java.
When I started working here, I only received Rp 210,000 a
month. With that small amount of money, I learned to skip my
breakfast.
I am now used to working without having breakfast and I only
spend Rp 6,000 for both lunch and dinner.
Fortunately, I don't have to spend any money for
transportation expenses as I manage to get a free ride on the
commuter train every day.
I wonder if my company will increase my wage next year.
Perhaps we should stage rallies to demand the wage hike.
Budiono, 23, a security officer at a private bank on Jl.
Palmerah, West Jakarta, for three years. He lives in Batusari,
West Jakarta, with his parents:
I'm glad to hear about the plan to increase the minimum wage
even though it is not enough to improve my life as a poor man.
Worse still, I'm sure all prices will increase following the
hike. So, the hike means nothing.
At present I earn the regional minimum wage of Rp 591,000 per
month. I have only a little money left because my regular
expenditures come to about Rp 500,000 a month.
Luckily, I can earn extra income from the parking lot from
tips which come to around Rp 300,000 per month.
It really helps me. You know I also need to have fun with
friends.
I think the ideal minimum wage in the city is Rp 800,000.
Lami, 23, has worked at a garment factory in Tangerang for two
years. She lives in Bermis, Kutajaya, Tangerang with her friends:
The wage hike will not be enough for me even though I know it
all depends on how you handle your finances.
At the moment, I get Rp 700,000 a month, which is the regional
minimum wage and a transportation allowance.
My rent is Rp 250,000 and food for the month comes to Rp
300,000. I also need to buy new clothes and make-up. Saving is
just a dream for me as I usually have nothing left over after my
expenses.
Sometimes I get a little extra from doing overtime, even
though I start work at 7:30 a.m. and finish at 9:00 p.m. It's
exhausting but that's the only way to survive here.
I'm just afraid that the new wage will be followed by a new
quota at the factory. Normally, our sewing department should put
out 100 pairs of trousers in an hour. What if they increase the
load to 200 pairs after the wage hike? That would drive me crazy.
I just hope that won't happen to me.
Hermawan, 28, a bellboy of a three-star hotel in Slipi, West
Jakarta. He has been working for three years. He lives with his
parents in Bekasi:
The 7 percent wage hike is not meaningless to me, but I mean
to say that it won't help us much amidst the recent economic
downturn in our country.
One thing for sure is that all prices for public services and
basic needs will be skyrocketing following the hike.
So, you see that a little wage hike is far from enough unless
there is a new policy to increase the provincial minimum wage to
Rp 1 million. That's what I would call a decent wage hike.
I cannot imagine that the wage could help a family with
children survive. I'm single but I find it hard to survive with
the recent minimum wage.
-- Leo Wahyudi S