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