Tangerang Regent Minimum Wage Proposal Rejected by Workers

TEMPO.CO, Tangerang - The Tangerang labor and union alliances deemed the latest minimum wage proposal by Tangerang Regent Ahmed Zaki Iskandar has not fulfilled the element of justice for workers.

Ahmed Zaki previously proposed a Rp3.6 million as the region’s minimum wage (UMK). The Presidium of the People's Alliance of Tangerang Raya (Alttar) Edi Jayadi said on Monday that it was far from the worker’s expectation.

Moreover, Jayadi argued that the Rp3.6 million figure proposed by Zaki to the Governor of Banten is baseless, despite the fact that the worker’s offer far exceeds the Government Regulation No 78/2015 that limits its increase to 8.7 percent.

However, the worker’s union still expects that the Tangerang District minimum wage for 2018 could be improved by 11.61 percent to Rp3.7 million.

Despite being noticeably below the original suggestion of Rp4.175 million, the worker’s union appreciate the attempt of Tangerang Regent who audaciously proposed a UMK that exceeded the government regulation.

A tripartite meeting between worker’s and businesses alliances ended with a deadlock caused by each party stubbornly defending each proposition. The original Rp4.175 million that was proposed earlier was considered to be too expensive for company owners and were adamant in proposing Rp3,555,834 (8.7 percent increase).

JONIANSYAH (CONTRIBUTOR)