"We are concerned about Lebak districts low minimum wage of Rp1.7 million per month," chief of the Banten regional executive board of the Confederation of All-Indonesia Labor Unions (KSPSI) Agus Jaya said while delivering a speech.
Agus stated that the Lebak district government must show the courage to raise the minimum wages of workers in order to improve their standard of living.
As the Lebak district government has launched a prosperity program, workers too must receive fair minimum wages accordingly, he emphasized.
The current minimum wage of Rp1.7 million is not enough to meet the cost of living of a family with two children, he observed.
The prices of food products have skyrocketed since the government raised the subsidized fuel oil prices last month, he added.
"We hope the minimum wage in Lebak district will be raised to Rp2.7 million per month, or equal to that of neighboring Tangerang district, as the prices of clothes and foods have gone up," he remarked.
Mustopa, a representative of Metal, Electronic and Machinery Labor Union (SPLEM), Banten chapter, said workers have urged the district government to make every effort to increase their minimum wages.
Thousands of workers flocked to the DPRD building on Thursday morning.
As many as 50 police personnel were deployed to secure the rally.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
