Thousands of workers staged a rally in Palembang, South Sumatra, on Thursday, demanding that the provincial administration raise their monthly wages, as their current pay was far from enough to meet their daily needs.

The South Sumatra governor has issued a decree to raise the monthly wage to Rp 1.87 million (US$194.48) from Rp 1.35 million. However, the increase was considered to be too small and not able to meet people's requirements.

Coordinator of the rally, Nining Elitos, asked the local administration to review its decision. "The new wage is far from meeting basic needs," Nining said.

Head of the South Sumatra Manpower and Transmigration Office Rizal Fatoni, however, said that the new decision could not be reviewed as another decision had to be discussed with employers.

Rizal said that the decision on the pay rise was based on the 60 items mentioned in the decent life standards.