Multa Fidrus, Tangerang – Labor unions in Tangerang, Banten, have rejected the remuneration council's decision to set the minimum cost of living in 2010 at Rp 1,170,000 per month.

Tangerang municipality's Indonesian Labor Union Alliance Congress (Kasbi) deemed the proposal was based on outdated data.

"The council conducted a survey on the minimum cost of living based on the 2005 Manpower Ministry regulation for an unmarried worker," Kasbi chairman Koswara said Friday. "The results do not apply to married workers or married workers who have children."

The cost of living will determine the minimum wage increase. "It's no secret that wage increase does not exceed the proposed minimum cost of living," Koswara said.

He also said workers had expected next year's wage to increase to Rp 1,650,000 per month, which equates to the cost of living based on Kasbi's survey. The current wage is Rp 975,500 per month.

Koswara said Kasbi would ask the manpower agency and the remuneration council to review the proposed minimum cost of living. "We still have 15 more days to protest the decision and fight for our rights, should our request be ignored," he said.

The Banten governor is expected to confirm the new regional minimum wage on Nov. 20 at the latest.