Demo Demands Increase In Wages At DKI City Hall Disbanded By Police After Pagar Is Broken

Demonstrations by labor groups demanding an increase in the provincial minimum wage (UMP) for DKI Jakarta in 2024 (Photo: DOK Diah Ayu/VOI)

JAKARTA - The demonstration by the labor group which demanded an increase in the DKI Jakarta provincial minimum wage (UMP) in 2024 did not match their expectations. The action in front of the DKI Jakarta City Hall was forcibly dispersed by the police before knowing the value of the 2024 UMP from the DKI Provincial Government. This action has been held since this afternoon. They are waiting for the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono to announce an increase in the UMP next year. However, for hours of waiting, the determination of the UMP has not yet been issued. At around 15.00 WIB, workers tried to break into the fence of the DKI City Hall which was Heru Budi's workplace. They continued to shake the fence while oding until 15:15 WIB the fence broke. Police officers who were on guard from the DKI City Hall yard immediately moved forward blocking access from the broken fence. The fence that was successfully occupied by the workers was then taken to the middle of the road, before being finally secured by the authorities. Before long, the police immediately deployed a water canon car and a mob dispersal car. In front of the workers, the police who wore helmets and shields formed a line trying to push the masses back. Several workers tried to refuse to move from the front of Heru Budi's office by sitting cross-legged in front of the police. Central Jakarta Police Chief Kombes Pol Susatyo Purnomo Condro finally instructed them to disperse. "I ask for action to disperse. This action is anarchic. This action has carried out destruction, according to our law to disperse this action," said Susatyo through a loudspeaker at the location of the action, Tuesday, November 21. The longer the police line continued to approach the workers to force them to withdraw. Expressing their disappointment, one by one the workers finally left the location. The command car brought by workers is preparing to leave Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan. Other workers began to turn on motorbikes parked on the side of the road. Expressing his frustration, one of them carried the exhaust of the motorbike until it was noisy and emitted smoke towards the police. "Today we were not met by Mr. Heru Budi. We were provoked! Who else are we looking for justice?" said the labor representative from the command car. Before leaving the location, this group of workers sang the national anthem Indonesia Raya, accompanied by a salute to the police who brought them together. Previously, workers hoped that the Acting Governor of DKI Jakarta Heru Budi Hartono would be willing to determine the amount of the 2024 UMP increase according to their wishes, which is 15 percent to around Rp5.6 million. "About 15 percent, that's our hope from the workers. Please later, Governor, hopefully we can make a very wise policy decision for the workers," said Chairman of the DKI Jakarta SPSI LEM FSP DPD Yusup Suprapto, always representing workers on the sidelines of demonstrations.

However, some time ago, Heru gave a signal that he would follow the proposal of the Wage Council for elements of the DKI Provincial Government in determining the 2024 UMP. The DKI Provincial Government recommends a 2024 UMP of IDR 5,067,381. This nominal increased by IDR 165,583 or 3.378 percent from the 2023 UMP of IDR 4,901,798. "The result is in accordance with (recommendation of elements of the government), 0.3. Later, the governor's decision," said Heru on Sunday, October 19.