Workers push for survey on minimum wage
Workers push for survey on minimum wage
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor
Hundreds of workers grouped under the Coalition of Bogor Workers
demanded on Monday that the team in charge to assessing the
minimum wage conduct a survey on living costs before determining
the workers' minimum cost of living and regional wage.
The rally's coordinator Rifdian Surya Darma demanded that the
Bogor Regental Legislative Council immediately summon the team,
the Bogor Wage Council, to verify why it delayed the survey while
an increase in the minimum wage is to take effect in January.
The West Java governor had earlier announced that a decree on
workers' minimum cost of living and minimum wage for Bogor
regency would be signed on Nov. 20.
"The team had not conducted a survey to determine how much we
usually spend in one month. More delays (in the survey) would
only increase unrest among all workers," he added.
The coalition said it had also conducted surveys at four
traditional markets in Cibinong, Cileungsi, Cisarua and
Leuwiliang at Oct. 8 to get better picture of workers' monthly
expenses.
The wage council members include the Bogor regent, the
regency's secretary, academicians from the Bogor Institute of
Agriculture, head of the manpower agency, head of the social
affairs agency, the regency's legal unit, head of the industry
and trade agency, the Central Statistics Agency and the regency's
development planning agency.
Other regions in Greater Jakarta, such as Tangerang, Depok and
Bekasi, had set the minimum cost of living and wage earlier last
month for their region.
"We suspect that the authorities are keeping the matter
pending until the last minute and will abuse their power to set
the minimum cost of living and wage far below our expectations.
"That is why we want the councillors to compare the results of
our survey with the teams recommendation, if any," Rifdian told
the council's Commission D on development affairs.
Commission head Supono said the councillors had earlier
proposed to the team that the minimum wage be doubled from the
current Rp 600,000.
"The team is required to complete the survey 40 days before
the new wage is imposed on Jan. 1, which means this week," he
said, adding that the council will soon summons the assessing
team.