TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama says the ideal minimum wage in Jakarta should be Rp4 million (US$402).

"With that amount, families will be able to have decent living conditions," he said at Jakarta City Hall yesterday.

Ahok said this amount would accommodate families with only one breadwinner and does not include insurance and education fees.

Ahok also made the statement in response to previous media outlets quoting that he wished to pay thugs a salary of Rp4 million per person. He said their quote was out of context because he was actually talking about the minimum wage of parking attendants who are mostly thugs. Ahok believes they do not earn enough for their service.

Ahok’s statement was happily received by blue-collar workers. The coordinator for the Confederation of Indonesian Prosperous Labor Unions (KSBSI), Dedy Hardianto, said Rp4 million is a realistic amount for the minimum wage in the nation’s capital. Currently, the minimum wage in the Jakarta is only around Rp2.2 million ($221).

However, Dedy is pessimistic that figure can be realized because some companies have not even fulfilled the requirement of paying the current minimum wage of Rp2.2 million to all their workers.

ANGGRITA DESYANI | MAYA NAWANGWULAN