Wages don't meet minimum needs

JAKARTA: The average 2002 provincial minimum wages could only cover 85.89 percent of the minimum physical needs, compared with 90.48 percent in 2001, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said on Tuesday.

Jacob said although provincial minimum wages went up by an average of 27.47 percent in 2002, the increase was offset by a steady increase in price of basic commodities.

In accordance with Regional Autonomy Law No. 25/2000, the minimum wages are set by provincial governors.

Jacob appealed to governors to take into account regional conditions in determining minimum wages in their respective province.

"This has to be done to avoid jealousy among workers in other regions," he said.

He also lamented the fact that in some provinces the minimum wages were determined by regents, not the governors.

"In practice, there are still cases where the minimum wages were set by the regents or mayors like in West Java and Banten provinces," Jacob said. -- JP