Workers and their wages

Workers and their wages

From Media Indonesia

Generally, civil servants receive small salaries and are compelled to look for other sources of income. Those with moral courage and other capabilities can take on side jobs. They become teachers, consultants and traders, some drive an ojek (motorcycle taxi).

Civil servants whose moral values are weak and who have the opportunity because of their job as serving the public, in a project or a logistics division, may earn a large extra income.

Thus, there is an economic gap between civil servants.

Illegal levies seem to be condoned. Many cases of corruption, collusion and manipulation have not been revealed. However, the majority have a hard life because they often have to borrow money to repay a loan and so it goes on and on. Can such a situation be maintained?

In the current condition, the minority among them apparently remain untouched by the monetary crisis. The majority are at their wits' end as to how to make ends meet. These poor people are becoming increasingly poor because commodity prices have doubled or tripled.

Now is the time to consider how to give monthly allowances to those earning less than Rp 300,000. One possibility is to hold a cheap market selling staple foods. The quality of the rice rationed to civil servants should also be improved. This would be of great help to them. Many civil servants do not consume their allocated rice because it is of its inferior quality. They sell it at a low price.

Good-quality rice costs them two or three times the value of their rationed rice, but more edible rice is a better companion for simple dishes like tempeh and sambal (spicy condiment). Low- quality rice is difficult to cook and demands tasty dishes, hence meals become more expensive.

This economic crisis has been going on for quite a while now. It is high time the organizers of this country find a way out. They should not think of the welfare of high-ranking officials only.

SURYANTO

Bekasi, West Java