TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Bekasi Wage Council has set the minimum wage at Rp2.9 million (US$242) for single workers, which is higher than that in Jakarta at Rp2.44 million (US$203.3).
Bekasi Wage Council’s member Sayekti Rubiah said the standard was agreed by business owners, labor union and the regional government, based on the basic cost of living (KHL). From the survey of three traditional markets, the cost of living increased to Rp2.5 million from last year’s Rp1.96 million.
“Ideally, the minimum wage is higher than KHL. That’s why the figure was decided [at Rp2.9 million],” Sayekti said on Friday, November 14, 2014.
In addition to KHL, the wage council also took workers demand into account in setting the minimum wage. The minimum wage for group 1 was set at Rp3.4 million and for group 2 at Rp3.25 million per month.
“We hope that the decision can be accepted by all,” Sayekti said.
Sayekti added, the minimum wage in Bekas is higher than that in Jakarta because Bekasi has flourished as an industrial city, with higher number of industries and workers than the Capital.
HAMLUDDIN