REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Jakarta governor Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, has appealed to workers to accept the decision on the minimum wage, which has been set at Rp2,441,201.

"The figure was set based on various considerations including economic growth, the inflation rate and factors related to the decent living cost standard (KHL). So, I appeal to all to try to accept it," he said at City Hall here on Friday.

He remarked at a meeting on Thursday evening, which was attended by business and government representatives, that the remuneration board had submitted two recommendations with regard to minimum wage figures for 2014.

The government representatives at the meeting had submitted a proposal of Rp2,441,301, whereas the business representatives preferred Rp2,299,860.

"The meeting last night was only attended by government and business representatives. No worker representatives attended the meeting. The minimum wage for 2014, however, was later decided upon as a quorum had been met. So, the decision was already balanced," he noted.

Although the minimum wage for 2014 has been set far below the workers' demand of Rp3.7 million per month, Jokowi said he was not afraid of being sued by workers.

"We already raised the wage last year, and now, we have raised it again. The amount this time is final. All decisions carry a risk, which we must face," he asserted.

Jokowi, however, said he would continue to seek a solution to avoid recurring conflicts between workers and employers every year.

The Jakarta provincial government has raised the minimum wage for workers in the capital city to Rp2,441,301 for 2014, or by around 11 percent, up from Rp2.2 million in 2013.

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