Bagus BT Saragih, Jakarta – There is a reason the Presidential Palace remains clean, tidy and grand-looking, especially during the visits of state leaders. Behind all the pomp of these visits are those who toil in obscurity, with some underpaid even after working for 15 years at the palace.
On a hot and sunny Monday afternoon, Eman (not his real name), was sitting with several of his colleagues on the floor of a corridor near the palace. They were relieved after accomplishing the tough job of keeping litter out of the sight of members of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's delegation.
Eman was asked if he was aware that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in January, had said that the government promoted improvements in labor welfare nationwide. "Of course I remember the President's words," he said.
"It's our moral obligation to fight for [labor welfare]. The era of cheap labor and injustice is now over," said Yudhoyono in a speech before governors, regents, mayors, police chiefs and military commanders.
His statement responded to massive rallies by labor unions demanding the government force employers to comply with minimum wage increases set by regional administration at the beginning of this year. But to many contract workers at the palace, the pledge rang hollow.
Eman was one of thousands of workers in Jakarta who were supposed to be happy with the decision from Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo to increase the minimum wage from Rp 1.6 million (US$164.42) per month to Rp 2.2 million.
"We knew that Rp 2.2 million would not be enough to cover basic expenses, particularly for some of us who have spouses and children. However, the increase would significantly ease the burden," Broto, another worker, said.
But their hope died when they received Rp 1.8 million for their salary in January, a slight increase from last year's Rp 1.5 million. "I could hardly use the remainder to buy food for my family, let alone pay for my kids' education," he said.
To add to their salary, some sold snacks and hot drinks to fellow workers and journalists, Broto went on. "But our boss said no to that because it could disrupt our main job."
Some of the workers said that they collected meal boxes and mineral water cups disposed from meetings at the palace to be sold in recycling plants.
Some of the workers preferred to speak in anonymity over concerns that they might be targeted by palace officials.
"We've been trying to talk to our employers as well as to relevant officials here about our low wages, but we had no response. Palace officials said they could no nothing because our salaries are on the payrolls of our employers, but our company claimed it was not able to pay our minimum wage," Eman said.
Eman said the State Secretariat outsourced about 60 workers at the palace, comprising cleaning workers, gardeners and general office support. A separate company was used for each line of work.
These outsourced employees work in a 7-hectare area, consisting of the Presidential Palace, where Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono live during workdays; Merdeka Palace, where the President usually meets state guests; and the Presidential Office.
The toughest job for the gardeners is taking care of the garden, about half the size of a soccer field, located between the two palaces. The main yard in front of the Merdeka Palace, which is usually used to conduct state ceremonies, also requires attention. Eman said the workers received similar salaries.
When contacted by the The Jakarta Post, State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said that the palace had no responsibility over the outsourced workers. "The outsourced workers don't directly work for us. They are paid by their employers," he said.
Sudi said the State Secretariat appointed the companies via open tenders and that the state funds earmarked for the workers had taken minimum pay into consideration. He said he would evaluate the companies' compliance with the minimum wage.