Jakarta – Thousands of workers took to the city's main thoroughfares on Wednesday to protest delays in the increased minimum wage and hikes in electricity rates.
The workers from industrial areas in Bekasi, Bogor, Depok, Jakarta and Karawang belonging to the Indonesian Metal Workers Federation (FSPMI), the All-Indonesia Workers Union (KSPSI) and the Indonesian Workers Assembly (MPBI), demanded that Governor Joko "Jokowi" Widodo instruct companies to immediately comply with the 44 percent raise of the provincial minimum wage to Rp 2.2 million (US$228) for 2013.
They also staged protests at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta, demanding that the ministry not grant delays to a number of companies in Jakarta.
Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers Union (KSPI), Said Iqbal, said on Wednesday that a total of 908 companies had requested to delay the implementation of the wage increase, of which 46 had gained approval.
"These companies should have undergone an audit by public accountants to verify that they suffered losses during the past two years, and should have obtained approval from their workers over the delay before deciding not to implement it," he said.
They also demanded that the city police chief Insp. Gen. Putut Eko Bayusno protect them from assaults from organized thugs and to suspend Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Isnaeni Ujiarto, saying the latter had failed to protect workers from such assaults that had injured 16 of them during rallies on Oct. 29 and Nov. 19 last year.
Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said the police had met with union representatives and would deliver their message to the police chief. "The Jakarta Police chief will soon evaluate his [Bekasi Police chief's] performance."
A group of workers also staged a rally in front of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to call on the ministry to not increase the electricity rate, as it would harm their purchasing power.
The rallies, which passed off peacefully, caused severe traffic congestion along Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Merdeka Selatan in Central Jakarta, forcing motorists to use Transjakarta bus lanes. (JP/nad)