DKI Jakarta City Hall To Be Geruduk, KSPI: Anies Is The Culprit For Cheap Wages, The Ministry Of Manpower Is The Super Culprit

JAKARTA - The President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal assessed that the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan was also the culprit of low wages by setting the provincial minimum wage (UMP) which only rose slightly. Therefore, thousands of workers will stage a demonstration in front of the DKI City Hall on November 29 to 30.

As is known, the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government has determined the amount of the DKI Jakarta UMP in 2022. In its calculation, the wages of workers have increased by 0.85 percent or around Rp. 37 thousand to Rp. 4,453,935. The determination of this year's UMP is said to be in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations which are the reference for all regions of Indonesia.

"The governor of DKI is the culprit, because if the Governor of DKI has decided it will be difficult for the UMK (district/city minimum wage)," he said in a virtual press conference, quoted Tuesday, November 23.

Said Iqbal also questioned the reason why Anies was afraid of the circular letter from the minister of home affairs asking governors to increase the UMP according to the Ministry of Manpower's formula with a national average increase of 1.09 percent. Because the governor is not subordinate to the minister of the interior.

"Fight it if it's the truth. Give an argument, it's not a matter of being brave or not. It's a matter of taking sides," he said.

Not only will the demonstration be held in front of the Jakarta governor's office, said Iqbal, on the same date the demonstration will also be held at the state palace and the Office of the Ministry of Manpower.

"The super culprit of all these problems is the Ministry of Manpower," he said.

Furthermore, Iqbal explained that the action would be followed by six confederations and 60 national-level trade unions. The workers involved reach tens of thousands of people. They come from factories in Jakarta, West Java and Banten.

"There are 10 thousand workers at the Palace, 10,000 at the DKI City Hall, and 10 thousand at the Ministry of Manpower. So we are not playing games. This is serious," he said.

Iqbal emphasized that the action at the end of the month I will continue to comply with the health protocol and PPKM Level 1. His party will also coordinate with the police so that the action does not disturb public order.

For your information, the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) has held a demonstration by taking to the streets to demand the district/city minimum wage (UMK) of 10 percent. The action will be held at local government offices in 24 provinces, tomorrow morning and will be attended by more than 10,000 workers or workers nationally.

KSPI President Said Iqbal said the demonstration would be attended by 1,000 factories in 24 provinces and more than 100 regencies/cities. The demonstration will start at 09.00 or 10.00 local time until it is finished.

Iqbal said the demonstration was the initial attitude of workers asking for an increase in the Regency/City Minimum Wage (UMK) next year to reach 7 to 10 percent. Because based on the survey results, an average of 60 items of decent living needs (KHL) have increased.

"From the survey, it was found that the most experiencing price increases was transportation, especially public transportation with very few pandemics operating so they switched to online transportation so that transportation costs rose sharply. The prices of basic commodities also increased by an average of 7-10 percent," he said.

Iqbal said that if the government does not respond to tomorrow's action, then his party will take even bigger action and it is possible that it will lead to a national strike by stopping production from 6 to 8 December.