Detik.com
- October 26, 2009
Baban
Gandapurnama, Bandung – Workers from the Preparatory Committee for the
Indonesian Labour Movement Union (KP-PPBI) are demanding a minimum wage
increase across all regions in 2010 of as much as 50 percent.
According to
KP-PPBI provisional coordinator Sulaeman, their demands are based on an
assessment of workers’ wages that are still not enough to survive on. “This 50
percent increase for workers will also stimulate an increase in purchasing
power, and thereby stimulate Indonesia’s stagnating economy,” said Sulaeman
during a KP-PPBI press conference at the Hotel Bandung Permai on Monday October
26.
Sulaeman
also said that this demand should be viewed from the aspect of living
conditions in Indonesia that are in a state of crisis, which can be seen from
the huge jump in the price of goods and services.
In addition
to his, according to Sulaeman, the working class is concerned that the regime
of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono plan to
increase fuel prices, electricity rates, the price of LPG and other prices in
2010. “This cannot just be ignored, the working class in Indonesia can no
longer adopt and attitude of defeat. Even though Indonesia is still
experiencing an economic crisis,” said Sulaeman.
The KP-PPBI
will be campaigning for this demand throughout the country, particularly among
labour organisation and workers' networks to encourage them to support a wage
increase in 2010. “Fifty percent is in fact not enough, but this is an effort
to improve the welfare of the working class, so we ask workers to keep
supporting [the demand]”, said Sulaeman.
The KP-PPBI
is also urging labour delegations on wage councils to fight for the 50 percent
wage increase. In addition to this they are appealing to regional labour
organisations to hold actions either at government offices or Regional House of
Representatives and to produce leaflets or pamphlets on working class
resistance, as well as establishing cheap wage opposition committees on a
national scale. “Hold mass marches or mass meetings in industrial areas, in
open areas, or meeting halls to jointly call for a 2010 wage increase,” said
Sulaeman.
The KP-PPBI
is comprised of a number of labour organisations, including among others the
Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB), the Cross-Factory Labour Forum
(FBLP), the Solidarity Forum for Labour Struggle (FSPB) and the Association of
Concerned Labour Youth (PPMP). (avi/ern)
[Translated
by James Balowski.]
