Jakarta Workers Demand Increased Wage

Jakarta, Oct 29 (Antara) - Thousands of Jakarta workers went on strike here on Tuesday, demanding wages be increased to Rp3.7 million per month. "Workers ask the Jakarta Governor to agree to the demand for a wage at Rp3.7 million per month and for him to be on the workers` side," Chairman of the Jakarta Workers Forum, Muhammad Toha, said. The protestors gathered outside Jakarta City Hall and asked Governor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to come out and meet them. Labor leaders said Jokowi had never previously met workers, only sending his deputies, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok, to meet striking workers. Meanwhile, Jajuli, a member of the Jakarta Wage Council of FSP-LEM labor union, said the government does not listen to the workers regarding wage increases. He added that the workers` demand for a wage hike is realistic. "The workers ask Deputy Governor of Jakarta Ahok to be consistent in rejecting the decent wage standard decided unilaterally by the manpower office and Apindo because it`s unconstitutional," he said. Workers said they will join the nationwide labor strike on October 31 and November 1, if their wage demand is not met by the Jakarta administration.