Anies Who Is Undaunted When He Is Criticized By Employers Due To The Revised UMP Increase

DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan (Photo: Instagram @aniesbaswedan)

JAKARTA - Employers' associations have criticized the Governor of DKI Jakarta Anies Baswedan for revising the amount of the increase in the DKI provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2022.

Anies changed the UMP increase from 0.85 percent to 5.1 percent. In 2021, DKI's UMP is Rp4,416,186. If it increases by 0.85 percent or Rp37,749, the 2022 UMP will be Rp4,453,935. Then, when Anies raises 5.1 percent or Rp225,667, the UMP for DKI next year will be Rp4,641,854.

When he received criticism and protests from businessmen regarding the revision of the UMP increase, Anies was not afraid. Instead, he answered the reason for the change in the UMP increase by explaining the logic.

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, is 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.

Criticism of entrepreneurs to the threat of suing

The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) protested Anies' policy of revising the increase in the 2022 UMP which was originally only 0.85 percent to 5.1 percent.

Apindo Chairman Hariyadi Sukamdani assessed that DKI Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan had violated wage regulations related to the revision of the DKI Jakarta provincial minimum wage (UMP) increase in 2022.

"In this case, we see that the regional head, the Governor of DKI Jakarta, has violated the wage regulations, namely those in Government Regulation (PP) Number 36 of 2021 concerning Wages," said Hariyadi.

Hariyadi said Anies violated the provisions in the PP Wages, in particular Article 26 concerning Procedures for Calculation of the Minimum Wage; Article 27 regarding UMP; and Article 29 regarding the time for determining the minimum wage that should be for the province no later than November 21, 2021.

Hariyadi urged Anies to withdraw the decision to revise the UMP increase by 5.1 percent. If not, Apindo will sue Anies to the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN).

"We will sue the revised results to the PTUN and coordinated by Apindo DKI. Regarding that, we are waiting for the governor's regulation before proceeding to the PTUN," he said.