TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bekasi administration has rejected an appeal from the Bekasi chapter of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) to revoke the minimum wage set at Rp2.9 million per month. Apindo said that the minimum wage was too high for business owners.
Bekasi Mayor Rahmat Effendi said on Friday, November 21, 2014, that it would be impossible to revoke the decision since it has been finalized legally. Rahmat also suggested Apindo to take legal actions to settle the matter.
Rahmat regretted that during the government-mediated discussion between labor unions and Apindo, there were no arguments raised by Apindo about the minimum wage. According to Rahmat, Apindo should have raised a concern before the decision was taken.
“Apindo should not hide behind the Bekasi Administration. We only served as the mediator,” Rahmat said.
Rahmat added that Apindo should have understood that the minimum wage to be enforced starting from January 2015 was the forum’s decision, instead of mayor’s decision. However, he said that he wanted to maintain a good investment climate in the city, with improved labors’ welfare as one of its indicators.
HAMLUDDIN
