Sitting At Wahidin Halim's Desk, Said Iqbal: The Governor Should Be Wise, Not Insulting

President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal (Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - Banten Governor Wahidin Halim's statement provoked the emotions of the workers. Wahidin said that employers are better off looking for new workers, if the employees refuse the 2022 city minimum wage (UMK) that has been set.

Some time ago, a group of workers stormed Wahidin's office which began with a demonstration. They even occupied Wahidin's desk. They did not accept Wahidin's statement and continued to demand that the Banten UMK be revised.

In response to this, the President of the Confederation of Indonesian Workers' Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal asked Wahidin and other provincial governors to be wiser in dealing with the issue of wages, not to issue statements against workers.

"The governor is asked to be wise in his words and actions in responding to the aspirations of the workers with a constructive dialogue, not insulting the workers. Thus, spontaneous actions that provoke the anger of the workers, including the words and actions of the Governor of Banten," said Iqbal in his statement, Saturday, December 25th.

Furthermore, Iqbal appealed to governors throughout Indonesia to revise the increase in the minimum wage value according to the recommendation of the Regent/Mayor, taking into account the decision of the Constitutional Court. He gave an example of the increase in the UMP that occurred in other countries. Currently, wages in Vietnam are up 7.1 percent, Thailand 3.29 percent, Turkey 50 percent, and Germany 21 percent. Therefore, he does not agree if the average minimum wage only increases by 1.09 percent.

"So, when Governor Anies raised the DKI UMP by 5.1 percent, it was very rational. Because this is in accordance with the decision of the Court. In other words, Governor Anies is subject to the applicable law, according to the results of the calculations," said Iqbal.

It is known that on Wednesday, December 22, dozens of workers forced their way into Wahidin Halim's office in Serang, Banten after holding a demonstration.

In the late afternoon, when the activities of the Banten Provincial Government employees finished, the workers managed to break into the gate of Wahidin's office. They broke down the door to Wahidin's office. Successfully entering, a number of workers ate snacks and took pictures in Wahidin's work chair.