Wages don't meet minimum needs

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