UPAH BURUH ONDERNEMING KARET DI ACEH TIMUR, 1907-1939

Abstract

This study aims at investigating the correlation between the
wage level and the well being of the rubber plantation enterprise
workers in East Aceh in the period of 1907 to 1939. It is of high
significance in the historiography of Aceh because no studies on
Aceh have been found that examine plantation enterprise
workers. The major source of this study is the annual reports of
the Labor Inspectorate from 1907 to 1939, the collection of
National Library, Jakarta.
        The results of the study indicate that the wage of the
plantation enterprise workers in East Aceh was very low and
worth only for subsistence and determined unilaterally by the
enterprise. The workers contributed nothing to the wage
determination. The wage level was adjusted to the living cost,
especially the price of rice, and the financial condition of the
enterprise. Therefore, the living standard of the rubber plantation
workers in East Aceh never changed although their wage
increased.