Mass protests in Indonesia over low wages

Up to 10,000 workers in Indonesia took to the streets today to protest against low wages and a new social security law that will require them to pay for health services.

Nearly 20,000 police and soldiers were deployed in the capital Jakarta to watch over the demonstrations organised by Indonesian labour unions.

The unions say national healthcare should be the responsibility of the government and lowly-paid workers should not have to contribute two per cent of their wages towards the fund.

The chairman of the Indonesian newspaper Sinar Harapan, Aristides Katoppo, says many workers are also worried their contributions might be mismanaged by the bureaucracy.

"One reason is that the workers do not trust if the bureaucracy is in charge of the deduction that they will do it efficiently and effectively and they charge that most likely it'll be a corruptive practice," he told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific.

he workers are also demanding an increase in the minimum wage and the implementation of a government policy to stop companies from hiring temporary workers without benefits.

These demands were the focus of a similar protest in early October, where more than two million factory workers went on a one-day strike across Indonesia.

Mr Katoppo says the government needs to take action to erase the current perception that it pays more attention to the concerns of employers than employees.

"I think the government should be taking a firm attitude, explain the policy better and at the same time, show they have equal attention or care for the workers' point of view, to negotiate with the workers as well as employers," he said.

Factory workers in Indonesia earn an average basic salary of just over US$120 a month.

With the economy growing by 6.5 per cent last year, the cost of living has been increasing, making it harder for workers to pay for food and basic necessities.

The new governor of Jakarta agreed on Tuesday to increase the minimum wage in the capital by more than 40 per cent - a move that has prompted labour groups across the country to ask for higher pay.

ABC/ wires