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Migrant workers in Malaysia and Hong Kong reject new wage regulation

Solidarity Net - November 25, 2015

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Malaysia – Indonesian migrant workers (BMI) working in Malaysia have joined in opposing Government Regulation (PP) Number 78/2015 on Wages with posters reading, "We as workers in Malaysia reject the PP 78".

In a photograph dated November 24 migrant workers could also be seen declaring their support for a national strike in Indonesia organised for November 24-27.

Meanwhile the Progressive Migrant (Worker) Alliance (AMP) in Hong Kong declared its support through a poster that was unfurled during a dialog organised by the Hong Kong Migrant Workers Community (KOBUMI) at the Victoria square on Sunday November 22. The AMP is also calling for a fight back against militarism and the criminalisation of workers.

Government Regulation Number 78/2015 has generated massive opposition among workers because the new regulation limits annual wage increases. The regulation determines annual wages increases based on the inflation rate and economic growth. Based on this formula, wage increases for 2016 have been set at no more than 11.5 percent.

In essence this means eliminating the role of wage councils in negotiating wage increases since the percentage increase is now determined by the central government based on data from the National Statistics Agency (BPS).

Workers in Indonesia are fighting back with protests and a national strike planned for November 24-27.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was BMI di Malaysia dan Hong Kong Juga Tolak PP Pengupahan.]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2015/11/foto-bmi-di-malaysia-dan-hong-kong-juga-tolak-pp-pengupahan.html..

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