Job Discussion Forums

xsbir · Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 81 Location: The Big Durian

Idul Fitri is upon us, and Indonesian workers are supposed to receive 1 month's pay as a holiday bonus. In the private language school employing exclusively native English speaker teachers where I work we teachers are required to donate Rp300,000 each for the Indonesian staff. This consists of 13 satpam, cleaners, office boys and girls. Apparently the school already pays them an Idul Fitri bonus.

In past years the teachers grudgingly paid this so-called (by the director) compulsory/voluntary donation. This year with the help of new teachers who weren't told about this when they were hired, there are five holdouts out of 11 teachers who haven't yet or won't pay. This has become a major rift in our school.

The reason for this post is to find out if any other schools in Indonesia have a such a requirement for teachers. If so, how has it been handled? Would you pay up if told to? I wouldn't mind an envelope being passed around and putting in whatever I choose; however, I resent being told how much to donate. Although we make Rp10j+ per month, Rp300,000 is no small sum, especially when we all have our own Idul Fitri requirements to pay at this time.

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

xsbir, this sounds pretty outrageous to me. If it is a requirement in this country then it should be borne ONLY by the employer. Last I checked teachers were employees. And when if ever will you guys get a Christmas bonus. No this is a first. Have never been required to do this and would refuse if asked / told to do so.

Atoms for Peace · Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 135 Location: NKRI

This is so outrageous it would be funny if it weren't true.

The Idul Fitri Bonus, aka the 13th salary aka THR is a legal requirement under Indonesian law for all employees (of whatever religion) who have been under contract for more than three months (ie after the probation period).

The idea that a school would have the sheer cheek to demand this from teachers is incredible.

DON'T PAY. NAME AND SHAME THE SCHOOL!

malu · Joined: 22 Apr 2007 Posts: 1344 Location: Sunny Java

Watch my lips: THEY should be paying a bonus to YOU. You are an employee, they are an employer. Ask if you will be getting your bonus at Xmas.

Chester · Joined: 15 May 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Australia

I doubt the employees mentioned would actually get the contribution asked from teachers. Most likely the owners would spend it on a mercedes or jewellery for the wives. Your generosity, if you should choose to help needy people, would be better targeted at donating to an orphanage.

treacle · Joined: 18 Jun 2007 Posts: 36 Location: the hills

2 step process

1. refuse to pay
2. resign

benbobaggins · Joined: 17 Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Location: Jakarta

I was once asked to pay the money and i did so. I believed the money would go to the staff and that was that. 300,000 really isn't alot for once a year. I used to live in a house with 3 others (EF days) and we gave the maid and extra 50,000 each a month to add to her measly wage of 350,000 a month. Considering a beer in a fancy hotel bar will cost you 70-90 thou, i don't see what the problem is really. I've just given my maid and sopir an extra months salary.
However, it's better to help in a more personal way in my opinion. E.G. when i moved house last time, i offered the OB some money for helping me and he also took some old clothes i didn't want.

century · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 10

Do not pay! This THR business is the responsibility of the school or organization NOT the teachers or staff.

basiltherat · Joined: 04 Oct 2003 Posts: 952

the audacity of the Indonesian (Chinese, perhaps ?) business person knows no boundaries. To those uninitiated, it might seem just amazing wat they'll ask people to do just to lighten their own responsibilities and obligations. Astonishing ? Perhaps not ! Expected ? I'd say so.

A lot of Indonesians are not taught that with rights come obligations and vice versa. What they are taught is to accrue as many rights as possible while having to perform the fewest obligations ... often their definition of success.
best
basil

laughing_magpie06 · Joined: 14 Sep 2006 Posts: 282

basil, you are spot on but i'd like to clear up one point. We can't blame the Chinese in this case as I have only ever met one Chinese Muslim living in this country in my whole time here. Most are Christian with a small Buddhist following. Most would also find this 'payment' quite amusing and unnecessary.

samoht · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Posts: 8 Location: jakarta

according to indonesian law (which is only as good as the best bribe) all employees are entitled to the thr bonus, depending on their religion, the employer can give it during christmas or chinese new year. This includes all those working on a kitas. however, some schools blatantly refuse to comply with the law, as they do on numerous other occasions when it is not in their best interest. Then the owners go to church on sundays with a clear conscience.

TEAM_PAPUA · Joined: 24 May 2004 Posts: 1679 Location: HOLE

guruengerish · Joined: 28 Mar 2004 Posts: 424 Location: Australia

EF director/owners have been pulling this scam for years.

Director/owners doing this to teaching staff, whether expat or local, is totally wrong IMHO. They are doing very nicely as the owners of schools and to ask teachers to fork out Rp300,000 each is so bad.

I know we were asked to do this at a couple of schools I was at, but never such a large amount.

drgonzo · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Posts: 82

I guess XSBIR won't spill who it is that is doing this... okay, I will, since I worked for them too and it wasn't pleasant...

It is ILP.

Llamalicious · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:03 am Post subject:

This seems a bit similar to arguments over tipping in restaurants.

Some people note that waiters depend on tips, what with their salary being so low, whilst others feel that tipping people for simply doing their job is a strange idea - do we get tipped after each class?