Workers want union leaders to step down
JAKARTA (JP): More than 200 workers and labor activists staged a protest at the headquarters of the All-Indonesia Workers Union Federation (FSPSI), demanding an increase in the minimum wage, the resignation of the federation's leaders and lower prices for basic commodities.
The protesters, representing 13 labor unions under the federation umbrella, called for a 20 percent increase in the minimum monthly wage.
They also insisted that FSPSI chairman Datuk Bagindo and secretary-general Andi Hisbuldin step down following the union's failure to channel workers' aspirations.
"Both (Datuk and Andi) should resign from their posts before workers come here to force them (to step down)," Aleksander Sinaga, who is chairman of FSPSI's Jakarta branch office, said.
"Both do not deserve to occupy their current jobs because they have betrayed us."
The workers blamed the two for initially endorsing the government's decision early last month not to raise the minimum monthly wage across the board.
FSPSI recently revoked its endorsement of the government's decision and demanded a hike in the minimum wage by at least 20 percent.
Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga issued Decree No. 49 in March stipulating the minimum wage in the 1998/1999 fiscal year would remain the same as the previous year.
The last wage increase was announced in January 1997 and took effect on April 1, 1997, with the government raising wages in all 27 provinces by an average of 10.07 percent.
The minimum monthly wage for a worker in Greater Jakarta currently stands at Rp 172,000 (US$21.50).
The industrial zone of Batam, including the islands under the Batam Development Authority, has the highest minimum wage of Rp 235,000, while Yogyakarta has the lowest at Rp 106,500.
Unfair
Ali Samioen, chairman of the tourist industry union, lambasted the decree, saying that the government had been unfair in its treatment of workers.
"Why has the government raised civil servants' wages by 15 percent while the minimum monthly wage is not increased," he said.
"How will workers survive the economic crisis on the current wages while the prices of basic commodities are expected to rise because of the government's plan to raise oil prices and electricity rates?"
Hartono, chairman of the plantation and agriculture sector union, urged FSPSI not to attend the International Labor Organization (ILO) meeting, scheduled to be held in Geneva in June 4, 1998, in order to attract international attention to the worsening labor conditions in the country.
He claimed that at previous ILO meetings, federation delegates were often compelled to temper their statements on the labor situation here as their participation in the meeting was sponsored by the government.
Djufni Ashari, chairman of the pharmaceutical and health sector union, warned that workers would join students to demand lower prices of basic commodities and reform if the government refused to raise the minimum monthly wage.
"The government should take this warning into consideration because workers have the potential to disrupt public order and stability in urban areas, especially in the capital Jakarta," he warned.
FSPSI deputy chairman Wilhelmus Bokha hailed the workers' efforts to seek an increase in the minimum wage and to ostracize those who had no commitment to fight for workers' welfare.
"Workers have no one to fight for them because the government has been on the side of employers," he said. "And those who have no commitment to improving workers' welfare should leave this labor organization." (rms)