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ANGERANG: The Tangerang branch of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said it would file a suit against Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah for her decision to hike the province’s minimum wage for 2011.

On Dec. 28, 2010 Ratu Atut Chosiyah signed a regulation increasing the minimum wage for 2011 from Rp 1,243,000 to Rp 1,285,000 for Tangerang regency and Rp 1,243,000 to Rp 1,290,000 for Tangerang municipality.

“The regulation was made without consulting Apindo. We are now preparing the suit to be filed to the State Administrative Court (PTUN) and the Constitutional Call,” said Gatot Purwanto the Tangerang Apindo chairman told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Gatot said that the 14 percent increase from last year’s wage for single workers in Tangerang municipality was too burdensome for firms.

“Also it is now fair to allow the same amount of monthly wage for both start-up and veteran workers,” he added.

Gatot also said that some companies had backed Apindo’s move to file the suit. He said that big companies like garment company PT Argo Pantes had asked Apindo to postpone the implementation of the new wage regulation. — JP