There Is No Connection With The 2024 Presidential Election, Ganjar Denies Apindo's Accusation Regarding The 2021 UMP Increase

Central Java Governor, Ganjar Pranowo. (Photo: Twitter @ganjarpranowo)

JAKARTA - The regional government of Central Java has decided to increase the 2021 UMP by 3.27 percent. This decision has drawn reactions from business circles, and is even linked to political interests in 2024. However, this accusation was denied by the Governor of Central Java, Ganjar Pranowo.

Ganjar explained that the basis for his party's consideration of raising the 2021 UMP is government regulation (PP) No 78 of 2015 concerning Wages. Moreover, the decision to raise the UMP was taken after hearing the views of employers, trade unions and wage councils.

"There is also nothing to do with other contestation politics. I have to maintain harmonious industrial relations so that the business world continues to advance," he said, when contacted by VOI, Tuesday night, November 3.

Ganjar admitted that he had communicated with entrepreneurs regarding the accusation that the UMP 2021 increase was due to interests in the 2024 presidential election. He said the businessmen were trying to straighten out the circulating news.

Furthermore, Ganjar said, entrepreneurs also admitted that they agreed that the decision to raise the UMP was very correct, especially when the economy was in a state of recession.

"I chatted with him. (He said) agreed Mas Ganjar, the problem of determining the UMP is the full authority of the regional head according to the mandate of the law and is not related to contestation politics," he said.

Ganjar emphasized that his party respects the differences of opinion between the Workers Union and the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) regarding the increase in drinking wages in 2021. Where employers feel burdened amid the pressure of the COVID-19 pandemic, they must raise the minimum wage.

"I respect the differences of opinion between employers, laborers and others. But sorry what I did was not related to contestation politics," he said.

Previously, the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) regretted the steps taken by a number of governors to not 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 continue to raise the minimum wage in 2021, including 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 at a press conference. virtually, 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.