Mabsuti Ibnu Marhas, Jakarta – Around one thousand workers in Banten province resonated protests against new regulation on workers pay on Wednesday by protesting at Banten Governor office.

Protester met by the Head of Regional Office of Labor Ministry Eutik Suharta, to discuss the matter as the governor according to regional officials is on a trip to Malaysia.

Workers had been protesting on the regulation as four ministries introduced a joint regulation which allows regions to raise workers pay below the country's economic growth rate, to address the slowing economy after the global financial crisis hit Indonesia. The regulation was issued in October by the Labor and Transmigration Ministry, Industry Ministry, Trade Ministry, and Home Affairs Ministry.

Workers demanded better pay as inflation rate hit 11.7 percent, way over the 6.1 percent GDP grotwh reported by the statistic agency on monday (17/11). Regions however have set higher wage levels during the annual period to determine wage at the end of the year starting on October. The new levels are to be imposed for one year term before the next regular adjustment in 2009.

Banten set the minimum pay for workers in the province at Rp 917.500 (US$75,98) per month, hiked from the previous Rp 837.000 (US$69,29) per month. The average minimum pay for Jakarta workers in 2008 was approximately at Rp 960.000 (US$79,48) per month.