Disappointed By Anies And Ganjar To Raise UMP 2021, Apindo: They Are Like The 2024 Presidential Election

JAKARTA - The Indonesian employers' association (Apindo) regrets the steps taken by a number of governors not to follow the circular letter (SE) of the Minister of Manpower (Menaker) Ida Fauziyah. As is well known, the central government has decided not to increase the minimum wage in 2021.

Several local governments have chosen to keep increasing the minimum wage in 2021, namely, DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, to East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa.

Chairman of Apindo, Hariyadi Sukamdani, assessed that the policies set by the governors to raise the 2021 UMP are not fundamental. The reason is, almost all businesses have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Of course this is the authority of the regional head, we only regret it. This means that things that are not urgent are not considered. Because this is the most basic reference for determining figures, so this is contradicting the existing conditions," he said in a press conference. virtual which was also attended by VOI, Monday, November 2.

Regarding the question of whether the policy had any political indication, Hariyadi was reluctant to interfere in the matter. It's just that he agrees that these regional heads are strong names for the 2024 presidential election.

"If they don't feel like the Pilkada, they want the Presidential Election. So in 2024 I wanted the Presidential Election, I didn't go there. Because if I remember, these names that appear in the polls will compete in 2024. But I don't know. , I can't answer that consideration, "he explained.

Hariyadi emphasized that beyond the aim of raising the UMP regarding the Presidential Election or not, this decision should take into account the current difficult conditions.

Furthermore, he explained, the decision to make UMP 2021 the same as 2020 was a fair choice. Because if the UMP formula still followed the provisions, it should have decreased in the next year.

"If the existing regulations are returned, they should go down. So what the regional head takes does not pay attention to the general conditions that exist," he said.

Hariyadi emphasized, this UMP does not mean that it applies to total wages, but only applies to new workers or fresh graduates. So, workers can still negotiate wages according to the company's capabilities.

"We will not sue because the decision really lies with the regional head. Only we regret that this increase does not see the real conditions and his understanding of the minimum wage as a social safety net seems lacking," he said.