Jakarta – Workers held simultaneous demonstrations at a number of locations in West Java in protest against a 2024 minimum wage decision by the West Java Provincial Wage Council at a plenary meeting on Tuesday evening, November 28.
The protesting workers, who came from a number of different trade unions, held actions in the streets of Cianjur, West Bandung, Cimahi, Bandung city, Majalengka, Cirebon and Sukabumi.
The actions were followed by a long-march to the Gedung Sate building where the West Java governor's office is located. During the action they also closed down the Padalarang toll road.
"We held actions to empty out the factories. Based on information given to me, up until now (3 pm local time), more than 1,300 factories have been completely emptied of workers. Workers who are still in the factory have been picked up to join the fight. This is [just] in West Java province", Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) national action liaison officer Buya Fauzi told CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday December 29.
Fauzi claimed that he had personally led a long-march by thousands of workers from Cianjur regency to the Gedung Sate building.
"The anger of Indonesian workers, especially in West Java, can no longer be held back after hearing the results of last night's West Java Provincial Wage Council plenary meeting", he said accusingly.
"None of the regent's or mayor's recommendations across West Papua to the West Java provincial governor were headed by the West Java provincial governor", Fauzi revealed.
There are workers holding actions and demanding that workers' wages in all regencies and municipalities across West Java be raised by as 15 percent for 2024.
"Or, [we will launch] a national strike said Fauzi.
Meanwhile Nusantara Trade Union Confederation (KSPN) President Ristadi said that the West Java Wage Council is still discussing the regency and municipal minimum wage (UMK).
"It's not certain (that the regent's and mayor's recommendations will be rejected or accepted) because it's still being discussed", he said.
"KSPN members took to the streets (to demonstrate) yesterday and today. For tomorrow there has yet to be another instruction. (Those at the Padalarang toll road today) have come together as one group. To monitor the recommendations from regencies and mayors whose figures are higher than [those set under] Government Regulation Number 51/2023", added Ristadi.
Today, or a day before the time limit set by the government, there are no regional governments that have set or announced the UMK for 2024.
However the recommendations by regency and municipal governments for the 2024 UMK have been circulating and are as follows:
The West Java provincial minimum wage (UMP) for 2024 has been set to increase by 3.57% to become 2,057,495 rupiah a month.
- Depok municipal government is proposing an increase of 12.99%
- Bogor regency government is proposing an increase of 14%
- Cianjur regency government is proposing an increase of 14%
- Subang regency government is proposing an increase of 12.33%
- Bekasi municipal government is proposing an increase of 14.02%
- Karawang regency government is proposing an increase of 12%
- Bekasi regency government is proposing an increase of 13.99%
- Majalengka regency government is proposing an increase of 14.81%
- Purwakarta regency government is proposing an increase of 12%
- Sukabumi regency government is proposing an increase of 7.47%
- Sukabumi municipal government is proposing an increase of 3.15%
- Cimahi municipal government is proposing an increase of 15%
- West Bandung regency government is proposing an increase of 14.85%
- Sumedang regency government is proposing an increase of 12.88%
- Indramayu regency government is proposing an increase of 3.21% and 15.02%
- Cirebon regency government is proposing an increase of 3.58 and 9.3%
- Kuningan regency government is proposing an increase of 3.4%
- Tasikmalaya regency government is proposing an increase of 11.62%
- Garut regency government is proposing an increase of 16.23%
- Banjar municipal government is proposing an increase of 3.61%.
(dce/dce)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Murka Sampai Tutup Tol, Ini Ternyata Alasan Buruh Protes UMK".]
