Ismira Lutfia & Faisal Maliki Baskoro – Labor unions in greater Jakarta will stage a major rally in East Bekasi, Karawang and Cikarang today to press on their demand for a minimum 10 percent increase in pay.

"We have planned the demonstration in industrial areas, not at city hall or other government institutions," Sunardi, head of the Greater Jakarta Labor Forum, said late on Sunday. He said the rally would involve around 20,000 workers in Cikarang and Karawang and another 10,000 in East Bekasi.

In Jakarta, up to 200 representatives from various labor unions will meet officials from the provincial manpower office to present the demands, he said. Sunardi said a pay rise of 5 percent announced in 2007 was not enough, as exports in the sector have risen by 23.6 percent.

"That means labor wages in the garment sector should increase by 10 percent," Sunardi said. Other sectors that should enjoy bigger increases include food and beverages, tourism, electronics, machinery, hotels, construction and property, he added.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) chairman Sofyan Wanandi said there would be no more negotiations with workers. "The earlier negotiation with workers ended up fruitless. There will be no more meetings with labor unions. We believe in the verdict of the PTUN [the State Administrative Court]," he said.

He said the 30 percent pay rise demanded by Bekasi workers couldn't be met by employers and Apindo had filed a case against the city concerning the issue.

According to the West Java governor's decree, minimum wages in Bekasi are set between Rp 1,491,866 and Rp 1,849,913 ($164-$203). Previously the minimum wage in Bekasi was Rp 1,420,000.