Yuli Tri Suwarni, Cimahi – Thousands of laborers from various factories in Cimahi, West Java, staged a rally protesting Cimahi Mayor Itoc Tochija's decision to set the city's minimum wage lower than their expectations.
Itoc set the minimum wage at Rp 1,019,000 (US$82.17), some Rp 80,000 lower than workers demand of Rp 1,101,700.
The workers based their demand on the fair living needs (KHL) amount, as determined by the local Wages Board, a consortium of workers, employers and local administration representatives.
The workers also accused Itoc of deception and violating the Manpower Law, as he approved the minimum wage without workers' consent or knowledge.
Staging their rally in front of Cimahi municipal office on Jl. Cihanjuang, the workers made speeches before some 900 police officers deployed from not only Cimahi's Police force but the West Java Provincial Police and neighboring Bandung and Sumedang Police forces.
Police officers barricaded the entrance gate, which had been damaged by workers at another rally on Thursday. Security was tight, with a water cannon and two police dogs were on standby.
Robin Sihombing, chairman of Cimahi's branch of the All-Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI), who coordinated Friday's rally, said more than five labor unions had expressed their dissatisfaction with the mayor's move. They had announced that the minimum wage had been agreed on by workers' representatives during a meeting Thursday evening.
The city administration announced that the Wages Board had recommended the 2009 minimum wage be set at Rp 1,019,000. "The city administration is trying to divide the labor force to enforce its proposed minimum wage," he said.
Workers demanded that the wage equal the KHL's Rp 1,101,700. "What is the use of conducting the KHL survey or establishing the Wages Board if it is only a formality?" Robin said to the workers.
Meanwhile, head of Cimahi Manpower, Population and Registrar Agency, Bambang Adi Nugroho, said that the amount was fair, as it is an 11.8 percent increase on this years minimum wage of Rp 934,250.
"The recommendation will be submitted to the governor to be authorized as soon as it has been approved by workers representatives at the Wages Board," he said. "We have ruled out employers' wish of raising the minimum wage to only Rp 964,005."
Bambang said the decision also disregarded a joint ministerial decree capping minimum wage increases.
Sabilah Rosyad of the Indonesian Metal Workers' Union said the minimum wage was only 95 percent of the KHL level, down from the current level of 97.5. "So this is a backward step for workers. Do not look at it for its amount but from the real living needs that workers have," he said.
Several labor unions in Cimahi have agreed to send a rejection letter to West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan on Cimahi's recommended minimum wage.