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Indonesian Unions campaign for Decent Wages

Indonesia's main trade union centres KSBSI , KSPI and KSPSI have launched a national campaign over minimum wages, massive lay offs and labour laws with a 25,000-strong demonstration of workers in Jakarta.

Unions refuse automatic calculation without negociation

 The unions are calling for a minimum wage increase of 25% for 2016. Eduard P. Marpaung, General Secretary of CNV Internationaals’s partner organisation KSBI explains that the unions reject the government proposal to handle minimum wage adjustments through an automatic calculation without negotiation: “Many workers in Indonesia are unable to make ends meet with high inflation. Tens of thousands of workers already laid off this year. The unions are also demanding the government to act to ensure job security.

Foreign investors keep wages at unacceptably low levels

The government needs to stand up to foreign investors which are seeking to use the slide in the value of the Rupiah as an excuse to keep wages at unacceptably low levels, cut jobs and diminish already weak labour laws.  The trade unions have concrete and constructive proposals which would help restore economic stability, and the government must be willing to negotiate on these with the unions."
Indonesia's working people feel enormous economic pressure and facing growing threats to their jobs. “The government needs to ensure a living minimum wage and act to halt the devastating job losses which are sending families into penury”, comments Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation ITUC. 

Protecion for domestic and migrant workers

The workers organisatoins are also campaigning jointly for protection for domestic and migrant workers through ratification of ILO Conventions. They also demand an end to the criminalisation of workers and trade union leaders for engaging in legitimate actions.Previous Indonesia news

Many workers in Indonesia are unable to make ends meet with high inflation. Tens of thousands of workers were already laid off this year. The trade unions have concrete and constructive proposals which would help restore economic stability, and the government must be willing to negotiate on these with the unions.

Publication date 07 09 2015