TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Acting Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said it was impossible to approve the 2015 minimum wage proposed by the Labor Forum as it was not in line with the calculation of a worker’s decent living standards (KHL) in Jakarta.
“The workers only want a high figure while we use formula,” said Ahok on Thursday.
He said the KHL components compiled by the Jakarta government had been set after considering multiple factors, including a possible price hike in the near future. He added among the components included were higher fuel and transporation prices, and nutritional needs.
Ahok’s statement was in response to the deadlock in the meeting between the Wage Council, entrepreneurs and Labor Forum. The meeting eventually proposed two minimum wages. The Labor Forum insisted to get Rp3,574,179.36 while entrepreneurs proposed Rp2,693,764.40, which is based on the average value of workers’ proposal and the KHL agreed on Thursday, November 6.
Ahok said the minimum wage in 2015 would only reach Rp2.7 million at the maximum. He added he would soon sign a recommendation letter to be sent to the Wage Council. “I will sign the letter upon receiving it,” said Ahok.
LINDA HAIRANI
