Anies Answers Reasons For Revision Of UMP Increase To 5.1 Percent: 0.85 Percent Disrupts Sense Of Justice

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan/PHOTO: Diah Ayu-VOI

JAKARTA - DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan responded to protests from the employers' association regarding his decision to revise the 2022 DKI provincial minimum wage (UMP) increase from 0.85 percent to 5.1 percent.

In 2021, DKI's UMP is IDR 4,416,186. If it increases by 0.85 percent or Rp. 37,749, the 2022 UMP will be Rp. 4,453,935. Then, when Anies raises 5.1 percent or Rp. 225,667, the UMP for DKI next year will be Rp. 4,641,854.

Anies said that the decision to revise the increase in the UMP stemmed from his feelings of being disturbed by the results of the UMP formula regulated by Government Regulation (PP) 36/2021 concerning Wages.

This formula results in a 0.85 percent UMP increase. Anies admitted that he was surprised that when the economic condition began to recover due to the pandemic, the increase in the UMP resulted in a small number.

"This year, when we used the formula used by the Ministry of Manpower, the output was 0.8 percent. Imagine if the economic conditions were better, using the formula, instead the figure was 0.8 percent. Isn't that disturbing the sense of justice, isn't it?" said Anies when met at the DKI City Hall, Central Jakarta, Monday, December 20.

"That's why we studied inflation and (economic) growth, so that in the end the figure came out at 5.1 percent," he continued.

In fact, said Anies, the increase in the UMP in 2021 which was decided at the end of 2020 alone could reach 3.3 percent. At that time, the pandemic had hit. Therefore, he wants the formula for determining the UMP to be objective.

"I want to convey to everyone, try to be objective. Last year it was only 3.3 percent that was difficult. This year the economy has moved, why are we still saying that 0.8 is the right number? This is common sense," explained Anies.

Previously, the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) protested Anies' policy of revising the increase in the UMP from only 0.85 percent to 5.1 percent. Apindo assessed that Anies had violated the rules.

Deputy Chairperson of the DKI Jakarta Apindo DPP, Nurjaman said the regulation in question was Government Regulation (PP) Number 36 of 2021 concerning Wages.

"The Governor has clearly changed (the amount of the 2022 UMP increase) and is there a regulation? Can we not violate the Gubernatorial Regulation? If the Governor violates the PP? We can also violate the Gubernatorial Regulation, please. Don't teach us to violate the regulations," said Nurjaman.