Workers clash with police in wage protest

Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

Some 1,000 workers scuffled with 200 police officers in Bandung on Monday during a protest outside the West Java governor's office against the city's minimum wage for 2004.

Two protesters were injured after being beaten by police with rattan sticks, while another had his shirt torn off after being bitten by one of three dogs brought in by security officers to quell the demonstration.

There were no reports of serious injuries after the violent protest, though it was marred by a stone-throwing incident.

The protesters were workers with the All-Indonesian Workers Trade Union (SPSI), the Textile and Leather Labor Union (SPTSK), the Independent Workers Union, the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) and the Federation of Indonesian Free Workers Organizations (Gaspermindo).

They rejected the 2004 minimum wage of Rp 588,407 (US$69.2) per month for workers in Bandung, which was approved by West Java Governor Danny Setiawan.

The wage is far below the city's minimum living cost of at least Rp 643,057, the protesters argued.

The violence erupted following a hot debate between protest leaders and Danny's deputy, Nu'man Abdul Hakim.

SPSI representative Sukmana Bratakusumah urged the governor to set the wage in line with the minimum living cost, as stated in an instruction letter issued by the manpower minister on July 4, 2003.

"However, we don't want to demand that much because many employers have complained about a lack of orders. If given only Rp 625,000 per month, that would be enough," he said.

In the meantime, local businesspeople rejected the new wage decided by the governor, saying they could afford to pay workers only Rp 565,000 per month.

This amount was in line with the wage proposed by Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada on Dec. 2, 2003.

"The capability of employers should be taken into account in determining the minimum wage, not only the minimum living cost," said Herman Muchtar, who chairs the Bandung office of the Indonesian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (Kadin).