Sultan HB X Asks Entrepreneurs To Pay Higher Wages For Craftsmen In DIY

Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X/DOC ANTARA

YOGYAKARTA - Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X asked entrepreneurs for handicraft products, both jewelry, and batik, to provide better wages to local craftsmen in his area.

"Because of my concern for the batik workers, the workers who make jewelry like in Kota Gede and so on, it is my hope that their income will increase," said Sultan HB X at the One Year Celebration of the Malioboro Terrace at the Malioboro 1 Terrace Court, Yogyakarta as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 7.

According to the Sultan, if the wages earned by the artisans in DIY are still low, regeneration is difficult to do so only the parents fill it.

"As long as these entrepreneurs make batik cloth from whatever, whether silk or cotton for jewelry, the income for accessories remains small, I'm sure only the parents work, there will be no young people who want to (become artisans)," Sultan said.

In fact, according to him, this year the DIY Regional Government projects the fashion business which also includes various handicraft products including batik, jewelry, and accessories will be able to boost DIY's economic growth.

The Sultan assessed that the business has quite a large potential to continue to grow and develop in his area.

"Fashion is not just talking about clothes or pants. Fashion is a completeness of it, there are shoes, socks, for women, there are accessories, jewelry, bags, hats, gifts whether made of rattan, wood, or iron. The potential in Yogyakarta is very big," he said.

Because of this, the Sultan hopes that entrepreneurs or traders of handicraft products, including those in Teras Malioboro 1 and 2, have the awareness to participate in improving the welfare of the craftsmen.

Without paying attention to this, the Sultan was worried that the business of various handicraft products in this province would gradually die because there was no regeneration.

"(Entrepreneurs) don't want to make a profit for themselves, the price (sell) is millions but the wages (craftsmen) are relatively small, so the longer they don't grow, the longer they will die because there are no young people who want to replace batik makers in Yogyakarta because wages are not possible," Sultan said.