Sitting On Asphalt, Governor Anies Meets Demonstrators: We Are Struggling For Higher DKI UMP

DKI Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo via Antara)

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan finally approached hundreds of mass workers who demonstrated in front of the DKI Jakarta City Hall Building demanding a change in the 2022 Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) which had been hammered.

After speaking with the media, Anies, wearing a Korpri uniform, then walked out of the DKI City Hall Building towards Jalan Merdeka Selatan, where the demonstration was held, Monday 29 November.

The former Minister of Education and Culture even sat on the asphalt before delivering an explanation to the mass of workers.

"Friends, we understand and we are currently jointly fighting for the UMP in Jakarta to rise higher than the current formula," said Anies.

Anies explained that his party has proposed to the Minister of Manpower Ida Fauziah to review the formula for determining the 2022 UMP. According to Anies, the formula for determining the UMP is not appropriate to be applied in DKI Jakarta Province, which is based on Government Regulation Number 36 of 2021.

"This formula, if applied in Jakarta, is not appropriate. Therefore, we sent the formula letter to provide a sense of justice. So, we have sent it and now we are in the discussion phase," he said.

Based on the formula from Government Regulation Number 36 of 2021, the increase in the UMP in DKI Jakarta in 2022 is only IDR 37,749 or 0.85 percent to IDR 4,453,935 per month.

The increase, which was only Rp. 38 thousand, was deemed very far from feasible and did not fulfill the principle of justice, considering that the increase in the living needs of workers or laborers could be seen from the inflation in DKI Jakarta, which was 1.14 percent.

After giving an explanation for about 15 minutes, Anies was seen shaking hands with the workers, then he returned to his office.

After that, the protest action by the workers continued as they sang songs and lit colorful flares.