REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Employers have objected to the government's plan of totally revoking the electricity subsidy for big industries this year and hoped for a stage-wise implementation over a period of two to three years.

On Monday, General Chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) Sofyan Wanandi stated here that the industrialists had raised objections to the government's plan of rescinding the subsidy all at once in 2014.

"We agreed to the revocation of the subsidy, but it should not be done within a year, but instead, in stages, over a period of two to three years. If it is done all at once this year, it may reduce competitiveness," he pointed out.

He noted that he was hopeful that the government will not totally revoke the 65 percent subsidy for the industrial customers using 30 thousand kVA (I4) in 2014, but instead, in stages spread over a period of two or three years.