Workers to Stage Yet Another Rally Demanding Hike in Minimum Wage

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Thousands of workers again planned to hold demonstrations tomorrow, December 8, to demand an increase in next year’s provincial minimum wage or UMP at least 10 percent in Jakarta. 

Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal said those ready to take to the streets are from KSPI, All-Indonesia United Workers Confederation (KPBI), and Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI).

The rally will be centered at Merdeka State Palace, Constitutional Court Building, and Jakarta City Hall. “Besides Jakarta, workers will also hold demonstrations in their respective regions,” Said added as quoted by Antara on Tuesday, December 7.

KPBI chairman Ilhamsyah also said workers will stage the protest in their respective industrial areas. In Jakarta, some of them will swarm the Pulogadung Industrial Estate.

“Tomorrow, all workers from Jabodetabek (Jakarta Greater Area) will flock to the State Palace. Ten thousand people have confirmed to join [the protest],” said Ilhamsyah.

The workers will demand the revocation of the decree on the determination of the provincial minimum salary which only increased by 1.09 percent and urge President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to issue a presidential decree to cancel the gubernatorial decree on UMP and raise the minimum wage by 10-15 percent.

“[We demand] a 10-percent increase in Jakarta and other provinces with low wages, including Central Java and East Java by up to 15 percent,” Ilhamsyah underlined.

Based on the Government Regulation No. 36 of 2021, Jakarta’s 2022 minimum wage is increased by Rp37,749 or 0.85 percent to Rp4,453,935 per month. Workers considered the hike amount to be too low.

Read: Minister Asserts Minimum Wage Still Refers to Job Creation Law Derivatives

ANTARA