Ismira Lutfia & Markus Junianto Sihaloho – Labor activists have demanded that the labor minister apologize over a statement he made on Thursday apparently belittling work that does not "require the use of the brain."

Defending the practice of "outsourcing," which activists contend leaves workers without benefits or protection, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said it was only meant to be used in low-wage "auxiliary" jobs.

"Jobs that can be outsourced are not core jobs, only auxiliary jobs," he said. "Auxiliary jobs are those that will not and do not require the use of the brain. They include cleaning services, security, goods delivery and various other jobs. But reporters, bank tellers and others who use their brains must be permanent employees."

Jaya Santosa, president of the Association of Workers Unions (Aspek), said on Friday that the minister's statement, quoted widely in print and broadcast media in response to a massive workers' demonstration in Jakarta on Thursday to protest the practice of outsourcing, was offensive and demeaning.

"We demand that Muhaimin issue an official apology to all workers and their families in the fields of security, cleaning services and goods delivery," Jaya said at a press conference, referring to professions the minister had criticized.

Jaya said the minister's statement highlighted a common disregard of workers' rights. He called on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to replace Muhaimin with someone with a better understanding of issues related to workers.

"As a public official responsible for the protection and welfare of workers, Muhaimin should not have criticized these jobs like this with no respect for workers' rights to fair treatment, regardless of their jobs," he said.

Sabda Pranawa Djati, the Aspek secretary general, said the statement came against a backdrop of "weak protection for outsourced workers and low pay for all workers."

The two issues prompted thousands of workers to take to the streets of Jakarta on Thursday to demand higher minimum wages and an end to outsourcing.

Legislators have also joined the cause, with Rieke Diah Pitaloka of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) calling for a revision of a 2005 decree that determines how an index measuring living costs, which is used to calculate minimum wages, is measured.

She also called for greater protection for employers, which in turn would protect jobs. She said this included corporate tax breaks, lower interest rates on business loans and eradicating illegal fees levied by officials.