BKPM chief said that foreign companies were not affected by the rallies themselves. They only affected small companies, namely local or domestic companies.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Head of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Chatib Basri said no foreign investor had left the country due to workers` rallies of late.

"There is no companies under the BKPM which have left Indonesia due to labor demonstrations of late. Foreign firms have paid salaries than the minimum regional provincial wage (UMP). They are only nervous if demonstrators conduct sweeping at firms and force other workers to join their rallies," the BKPM chief said on Monday.

He said that foreign companies were not affected by the rallies themselves. They only affected small companies, namely local or domestic companies.

"So, the rallies themselves pose no problem as long as they are held without violating the law," Chatib said at the State Palace.

With regard to a brick factory which reportedly stopped production, the BKPM head said the factory had halted its production temporarily.

"As far as I remember they have never said they will leave Indonesia. I have talked to its CEO. They never said they will leave Indonesia. What they are doing is temporarily closing the factory. It is a temporary closure because the company continues to be disturbed by demonstrators," he said.

He said that up to Monday, he had never received yet any letter from foreign companies saying they would close their business.

Chief economic minister Hatta Rajasa said on Saturday that no foreign investors had plans to leave the country following recent labor demonstrations.

"I have checked with the head of BKPM (the Investment Coordinating Board) and (found) no investor have said such a thing," he said at a dialog on economic nationalism here on Saturday.

Workers have recently held rallies in many parts of the country to demand wage increases.

Hatta said the workers` demand for an average of Rp2 million per month across the country was reasonable and must be met.

"I believe employers could understand it," he said.

With regard to companies that could not meet such a raise in wages, he said he would ask the manpower minister to issue a regulation about this.

He said the state is ready to reduce its revenues from corporate taxes, if necessary, to allow companies to continue operating their businesses.

In the meantime, Vice President Boediono has said that firm actions have been taken against workers involved in anarchism during demonstrations.

He said when opening a High Level Conference on Indonesian Investment 2012 here on Tuesday that while labor demonstrations are allowed actions must be taken against anarchism.

"The law must be enforced against excesses such as intimidation," he said.

Boediono admitted that investors had been concerned over the demonstrations.

He said the government remained committed to keep improving investment conditions in the country by among others providing legal certainty and better infrastructure.

He said the government would also continue improving the welfare of workers which has also been the government`s priority.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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