​Labor workers ride Rp. 50 million Kawasaki Ninja as they protest against low minimum wage

Two workers riding an expensive motorcycle. Photo: Twitter (@TMCPoldaMetro)

Jakarta Police Traffic Management Control tweeted a photo showing two workers riding on a Kawazaki Ninja – worth about Rp. 50 million retail – as they protested against the low minimum wage in Jakarta yesterday.

Considering that the current minimum wage in Jakarta is Rp. 2.3 million, those on that salary would surely find it difficult to afford a Ninja, even if the motorcycle was paid for on an installment plan.

While it wasn’t clear who the Ninja in the picture belonged to, people all over social media are condemning the workers for hypocrisy, as their protests are supposed to be about their daily struggle to make ends meet.

Protesting over low wages. Protesting because of fuel price increase. During protest, they ride a 250CC Ninja. WORKERS.

They’re protesting so they can buy another one

There are many middle-class citizens who don’t have a motorcycle (let alone a car) because of traffic jams. Now factory workers can afford a motorcycle that expensive?

Of course, many people came to the workers’ defense, saying they have the right to buy whatever they want.

Assumption: If workers own the Ninja, why are they protesting for prosperity? Fact: Not every worker owns a Ninja, there are those who ride the bus/angkot van.

You buy an expensive motorcycle, nobody bats an eye. A worker buys an expensive motorcycle, everyone goes crazy.

We have to side with the workers on this one. Who knows, maybe they saved up a lot of money to be able to buy that Ninja. It’s not like they drove a Lamborghini.




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