Minimum wage too low

DILI: Head of the East Timor office of the Manpower Ministry Ign. Mudji Hartono said the new local minimum wage would contribute to 83 percent of the workers' minimum physical needs.

The wages of workers in East Timor would increase from Rp 126,000 (US$52.7) to Rp 138,000 a month when the daily minimum wage is enforced on April 1.

"Yet, contribution of the salary increment to workers' physical needs is still below the national average of 96 percent," Mudji said as quoted by Antara recently.

The new minimum wage standard is on par with that proposed by the provincial government and entrepreneurs, he said.

Mudji added that unemployment is a grave problem in East Timor as only a few of the 4,000 people entering the job market can be accommodated. (imn)