Fuel Price Hike Has Reduced Indonesians' Purchasing Power: Labor Activist

Jakarta (Antara) - The subsidized fuel price hike has weakened the purchasing power of several Indonesians by up to 50 percent due to increased living costs, stated Indonesia's Labor Union Association (Aspek Indonesia) Chairperson Mirah Sumirat. President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla should be aware of this reality, she noted in her press statement made available to Antara here on Wednesday, or the day when tens of thousands of workers staged a rally in Jakarta. "Therefore, the government needs to be heedful to the people and take steps to save the fate of millions of poor Indonesians whose standard of living has fallen due to the impact of the fuel price hike," she affirmed. The government's decision to increase the prices of subsidized fuels has increased the financial burden on several people, including workers, as a result of the rising prices of staple foods coupled with the increase in transportation and electricity tariffs, she stated. In a bid to help laborers in the country, Mirah Sumirat called on the provincial governments to revise the schemes of provincial minimum wage as they were decided before the central government had increased the fuel prices. In the meantime, tens of thousands of workers hailing from various parts of Greater Jakarta area staged a rally to protest against the central government's decision to raise fuel prices amid the declining prices of crude oil in the international market. The workers congregated at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout before marching towards the State Palace, Jakarta City Hall, and the State Enterprises Ministry to voice their demands.(*) Reported by Dewanto Samodro