'If I demand too much I'm afraid I'll lose my job'

The current monthly minimum wage in Jakarta, Rp 591,000, will be increased by 7 percent next year. The same minimum wage is currently in place in the Tangerang municipality, where, though not yet official, unions, employers and the local manpower office have agreed to propose a 10 percent increase for next year. What do the workers say?

Triyono, an employee at a foreign-owned company in Tangerang. He is married with two children:

I have been working for five years and in total I receive Rp 670,000 a month.

Honestly, it is not enough to cover my monthly expenses. Luckily, my wife works and she earns a larger salary so my family is able to survive.

But now my wife has a tumor in her breast, which is forcing us to spend lots of money on her medical care. Unfortunately, there is no medical allowance (from my company).

I received a warning for missing work to take my wife to the hospital. The company doesn't tolerate absences no matter the reason.

Anyway, I guess the ideal minimum wage would be about Rp 800,000 a month because the living expenses here are high.

But I know the company will never listen to the voice of the grass roots. Sometimes I feel it would be better for me to be fired so I could collect my severance pay.

Narni, 28, has worked at a leading shoe factory in Tangerang for 10 years. She is single:

A 7 percent wage hike is simply useless because of the skyrocketing cost of basic needs, transportation, fuel, electricity and other public services.

So what is the hike for if it does not cover the increase in the prices of all of these things? I'm sorry to see that conditions are getting worse.

My basic salary now is Rp 760,000 per month. If I work overtime, I can get about Rp 500,000 extra.

Despite that, I don't have any money left for me because I have to support my parents and (younger) siblings in Central Java.

But the sluggish economy has cut back on the amount of overtime at the factory. As far as I know, orders for exported shoes have decreased.

I guess the ideal minimum wage would be Rp 1 million. But I don't know whether it is possible for employers to pay that much.

Sanggup, 21, works at a ceramic manufacturer in Tangerang. He is single:

I don't think the wage hike will have a significant impact on my life because living costs will unavoidably rise on the back of the increase.

I only earn Rp 640,000 a month without any allowances, but I get lunch every day.

From that I have to pay about Rp 200,000 in rent for my house. Plus I need some Rp 300,000 for my food for the month. The rest is for miscellaneous costs.

I know it's not enough even for a single man like me. But if I demand too much from the company, I'm afraid I'll lose my job.

Really, I'd be grateful to get Rp 800,000 in minimum wage. At least I could save Rp 50,000 a month. But is it possible?

Yayuk, a souvenir shop attendant at Taman Anggrek Shopping Mall, West Jakarta. She lives in Grogol, West Jakarta with her parents:

I'm just happy to hear of the wage increase and hope that my salary will be raised too.

So far I only receive Rp 400,000 a month. In fact, that amount of money would not cover the expensive cost of living in this city.

But, I manage to spend it carefully. Thank God that I stay with my parents so I don't need to rent a house. But still, with this salary I never save anything.

I dream of having a better job with more money so that I can be self-reliant.

--Leo Wahyudi S.