Fauzi to set new minimum wage soon

JAKARTA: Governor Fauzi Bowo said on Thursday that he would issue a gubernatorial regulation on the minimum wage for people working in several lucrative business sectors, but declined to reveal an exact date. “I hope that the workers remain patient. I will issue the regulation as soon as I can,” he said.

The Jakarta Labor Forum, which consists of at least 10 workers unions, had told the administration to issue the regulation on Monday at the latest or, otherwise, they would stage a strike across the capital that day.

Previously, the City Remuneration Board had recommended the sectoral minimum wage be set at between 5 and 30 percent higher than the provincial minimum wage, which is Rp 1,529,150 (US$167) per month.

The business sectors include infrastructure and public works; chemical, energy and mining; metal, electronics and machinery; automotive; insurance and banking; food and beverage; health and pharmacy; textile, clothing and leather; tourism and communications.