'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