Tangerang workers block Tangerang – Merak toll road

Thousands of workers from 20 labor unions blocked the Tangerang-Merak toll road at kilometer 28 near the Bitung toll gate as part of their protest against the 2012 monthly regional wage.

The blockade occurred as the protesters marched from Tangerang to the Banten governor’s office in Serang.

The blockade lasted for three hours, causing five kilometers of traffic congestion on the toll road in both directions, as well as on Jl. Raya Serang from the direction of Cikupa and on Jl. Gatot Subroto from the direction of Tangerang.

Initially, the workers planned to stage a rally at Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah’s office on Jl. Brig. Gen. Syam’un in Serang in protest to the his decision on the regional wage for 2012.

Koswara, the coordinator of the rally, said Tangerang workers demanded the monthly wage for 2012 be the same as the Jakarta’s workers monthly wage amounting to Rp 1,529,000 (US$170) per month, citing relatively similar living costs between Tangerang and Jakarta.

“But in her decision, the Banten governor determined that Tangerang workers monthly wage for 2012 is Rp 1,381,000,” he said.