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.