Bali tourism unions push for 2027 minimum wage near Rp5.2 million

Denpasar — Tourism workers in Badung, Bali, are urging authorities to set the 2027 minimum wage much closer to the government’s decent-living benchmark of about Rp5.2 million per month, with union leaders calling for wage levels at 90–95 percent of that standard. The figures remain indicative references rather than a formal minimum wage proposal.

Bali Discovery, citing local outlet NusaBali, reports that the Badung Tourism Workers Union (Serikat Pekerja Pariwisata) wants the upcoming Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP) and Regency/City Minimum Wage (UMK) for 2027 to allow a “reasonable and decent standard of living” for workers, based on the official Decent Living Standard (Kebutuhan Hidup Layak, KHL) estimate of around Rp5.2 million per month.

According to Bali Discovery, union representatives are pressing for minimum wages to be set within roughly 90–95 percent of the KHL figure, and ideally at 100 percent if economic conditions permit. The current minimum wages in Bali are reported to be about Rp2 million below the amount economists say is needed to maintain a decent living standard on the island.

The decent-living benchmark itself is rooted in national-level calculations. Detik Bali notes that the KHL figure for Bali has been set by the central government at approximately Rp5.2 million, while the current provincial minimum wage is around Rp3.2 million. Tribun Bali, citing an International Labour Organization study on minimum wage methodology, also refers to a KHL value for Bali of about Rp5.253 million per month.

Union expectations for the 2027 wage formula

The Bali Discovery report quotes Slamet Suranto of the Badung tourism workers’ union as saying workers are waiting for clarity on how the 2027 UMP and UMK will be calculated. The union wants the government to first confirm the latest KHL figure, with the Central Statistics Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik/BPS) involved in that process.

Union representatives also highlight the role of inflation, economic growth and an “alpha factor” in past minimum wage formulas, and say they are watching to see whether a comparable formula will be used for 2027. They argue that Bali’s wage-setting must account for the island’s tourism-driven economy and relatively high living costs.

A separate article on Bali.live, summarising local official statements, reports that provincial authorities are examining sectoral wage formulas for tourism workers and considering a benchmark of around Rp5 million per month for the sector. The reference level is based on the KHL figure of roughly Rp5.2 million as the income needed for a decent life in Bali.

Sectoral benchmarks and timing

According to Bali.live, officials want wages for local workers in Bali to move closer to the cost of living on the island and are discussing sectoral minimums, particularly in tourism. The same report notes that new minimum wages for 2027 are scheduled to be announced nationally on 21 November 2026, with district and city amounts due to be made public within five days after that date.

Detik Bali separately reports that the Bali provincial government is reviewing wage formulas for tourism workers and aims to raise both the provincial and regency/city minimum wages in 2027 compared with the current levels. Officials there also confirm that tourism is among the sectors most likely to see minimum wages move toward the Rp5 million level, in line with the KHL benchmark.

While union leaders and some provincial officials have spoken of Rp5–5.2 million as a realistic reference point for a livable wage in Bali’s tourism sector, neither Bali Discovery nor Bali.live reports that a precise Rp5 million minimum wage has been formally tabled or approved for 2027. Both accounts describe the figure as an indicative benchmark anchored in the government’s decent-living standard rather than a confirmed wage level.

Sources

• Bali Discovery – "Bali Workers Seeking 2027 Minimum Wage That Permits Decent Standard of Life"
• Bali.live – "Bali Tourism Wages Could Rise to Rp5 Million"
• Detik Bali – "Pemprov Bali Kaji Formula Pengupahan Pekerja Sektor Pariwisata"
• Tribun Bali – "Nilai Upah Dinilai Masih Tertinggal, FSPM Desak UMP 2027 Mengacu Kebutuhan Hidup Layak"