TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration recorded there are 13 provinces having yet to determine minimum wage for 2014. "These provinces have not made the final decision for minimum wage," Ministry spokesman Suhartono said yesterday.
Every region is required to determine its minimum wage to maintain business stability. According to Suhartono, there has been no sanction for provinces for having not determined the minimum wage, nor does it contradict with Presidential Instruction number 9 year 2013 about Minimum Wage. Several provinces having yet to determine their minimum wage are Lampung, Central Java, East Java, West Papua and North Kalimantan.
Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration expect regional heads to immediately determine their minimum wage. Should there be no decision taken until November 20, the governor will issue a decision that minimum wage will be adapted to each region's condition.
Last year, four provinces on Java Island failing to decide on minimum wage were West Java, Central Java, East Java and Yogyakarta Special Region. Governors in these regions determined only the minimum wage for regencies and cities. Suhartono said there will be no big difference for regions that have no minimum wage.
Twenty-one regencies have determined minimum wage. The highest minimum wage has been decided by Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, which is Rp2,44 million. Minimum wage in other provinces ranges from Rp1.5 million to Rp2 million.
IRA GUSLINA SUFA