Labor Party: Foreign Workers' Higher Pay at PT GNI Not New Issue

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Labor Party President Said Iqbal said that the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III's findings regarding lower wages for Indonesian workers compared to foreign workers at PT Gunbuster Nickel Industri or PT GNI were not new issues.

Said claimed that he had long known that foreign workers are being paid higher than local workers although they are in the same position, namely as unskilled workers.

"It's actually KSPI's finding five years ago that foreign workers at the same type of job are paid much higher," Said told Tempo on Friday, January 20, 2023.

Earlier, House Commission III member Supriansa said that the deadly clash that occurred at PT GNI’s nickel smelter facility stemmed from the unrealized implementation of the occupational health and safety (K3) procedures, followed by the issue of the salary gap between foreign workers and local workers.

"That's what bothers me. Why is the salary of foreign workers in the same company and the same job different from local workers," Supriansa said as quoted from the official DPR website.

Supriansa added that when the issue of salary discrepancies has not been resolved yet, there was another issue regarding salary cuts. He therefore firmly asked the company management to trace if there are parties who deliberately spread such sensitive issues.

"This cannot be tolerated because if we set it aside, it will become a problem not only at PT GNI but also at other companies," said the Golkar Party politician.

ADE RIDWAN YANDWIPUTRA

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