On wages

From Pikiran Rakyat

Many recent reports have focused on wages, including the hike in the salary of officials, civil servants, legislators and the minimum wage for workers.

The reason given -- the higher cost of living -- makes sense; however, this will only add to our burden. The increase in income of those far above the average level has led to the even more higher prices in the nine basic commodities. With plans to raise the price of fuel, we will then be finished.

I am a contract worker in a provincial office with a monthly wage of Rp 60,000, and I have never gained a raise as the ones reported above. The administration seems deaf and blind to those with the same daily needs as other humans, like raising a family and educating children.

It's not that I don't want to quit and find a better job but there are still so many job seekers out there, while unemployment increases from year to year. So I'm forced to accept this wage until something better turns up. But no one seems to care -- so how can our fate change?

I hope our representatives in the legislature show their concern, for without their positive response, we could be like this forever.

SAMANI

Serang, West Java