Bandung City Government Accommodates UMK Demands from Trade Unions

In this hearing, the Mayor of Bandung, Yana Mulyana said, from the results of the joint calculations it had been agreed that the minimum wage would be increased by 9.65 percent.

"After I saw Permenaker Number 18 of 2022, the economic growth and inflation figures used are two years back," said Yana.

However, according to him, the Bandung City Government (Pemkot) must also look at the actual facts. Inflation in 2021 is around 6.12 percent, while inflation in 2022 is assumed to reach 8 percent.

Meanwhile, economic growth in 2021 is 3.76 percent. The assumption of economic growth for the city of Bandung in 2022 is 5.5 percent.

"The result of the calculation is 9.65 percent. It also feels unfair if we use 2021 inflation because of the increase in fuel prices and the Covid conditions in 2022," he said.

According to him, this figure is the most moderate and rational. He hopes that this number will be the best decision that can be jointly accounted for.

"This is the rational number. This number came out because of the calculation basis. Only the reference number was changed because it would be unfair if we use the 2021 number in 2022 because of the increase in fuel prices and Covid-19," he admitted.

This result was also agreed upon by the leaders of the Bandung City trade union and workers unions.

After mediation, the Coordinator of Action Leaders and Chair of SBSI '92, Hermawan admitted that he had coordinated with the West Java Provincial Government to hold back the previous UMK figures so they could be revised.

"Alhamdulillah, this has been the best decision. We have also coordinated with the Provincial Government to withhold the UMK decision and are waiting for the results of the current revision," said Hermawan.

Previously, he explained three demands for the increase in the minimum wage, including historical, sociological and juridical factors.

"For this historical factor, we have sent letters to the Mayor of Bandung twice, but they were ignored. Only the head of the service received them. We want to be facilitated to meet the Mayor," said Hermawan.

Then the second demand, sociological factors. For him, the determination of wages must pay attention to the environmental conditions of the surrounding community.

The third demand is a juridical factor. The regulation regarding the increase in the UMK can only be signed by the governor on the recommendation of the Municipal/Regional Government.

Some of the labor unions involved in this action include the Independent Prosperous Labor Union (SBSI) '92, the All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI), the Federation of Independent Trade Unions, Gaspermindo, and Gobsi. (din)**

Head of the Bandung City Communication and Informatics Agency

Yayan A. Brilyana