Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – The Association of North Sumatra Workers has voiced its opposition toward the 2014 monthly minimum wage of Rp 1,505,850 (US$134), which is a 10 percent increase from this year's Rp 1,305,000.

"The prices of staple foods and other goods are increasing by at least 30 percent. Therefore, we demand a 50 percent increase and reject anything below that figure," the association head Minggu Saragih said on Saturday.

He said the association would enact massive strikes that would cripple the province's economic activity and also called on its 1.6 million members to stop paying motorcycle tax until the governor revised his decision on the minimum wage.

Commenting on the minimum wage, North Sumatra Governor Gatot Pujo Nugroho said the decision was taken following consultations that involved all related stakeholders. "The decision was made after careful and thorough consideration," he said.

North Sumatra's workforce and transmigration agency head Bukit Tambunan said without further elaboration that it was difficult for them to meet the workers' demand of a 50 percent increase.(dic)