West Java workers want more pay

West Java workers want more pay

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Thousands of West Java factory workers, grouped under the
National Workers Union (SPN), staged a five hour protest on
Wednesday outside the West Java governor's office, demanding that
the governor raise the minimum wage in the province.

The protesters damaged the gate of the governor's office but
their attempts to occupy the office were thwarted by a police
cordon of hundreds of police personnel.

After a scuffle with police personnel, several representatives
of the workers were allowed to talk with government officials and
councillors in the West Java Provincial Legislative Council
building, which is next to the governor's office.

In the meeting, the workers demanded that West Java Governor
Danny Setiawan set a single minimum wage that applies in all
cities in West Java. They urged the government to set a minimum
wage at least Rp 600,000 a month in every city in the province.

They also said that there was currently a discrepancy among
cities in the province in term of the minimum wage.

For 2005, the minimum wage in Ciamis and Banjar regencies is
set at Rp 408,500, the lowest minimum wage in the province. In
stark contrast, the highest is in Bekasi, where a worker will get
minimum wage of Rp 710,000 a month next year.

"We demand that there be no great discrepancy between one city
and another, because the cost of living among cities in West Java
is quite similar," said Titin, a factory worker in Bandung
municipality.

In the meeting, councillor Imas Masitoh promised workers that
the provincial council would press the provincial government to
revoke a gubernatorial decree that set the minimum wage for 2005
and that the governor should grant a higher minimum wage for
workers.

Meanwhile, the head of the manpower office at the provincial
administration, Wahyumijaya, said in the meeting that the decree
was final.