Brilio.net - Social media is once again abuzz with nostalgic posts that have sparked heated discussions. This time, a pay slip from 1997 has become the focus of attention after being uploaded by the Facebook account Nostalgia 80 and 90an. In the upload, a man shares his mother's pay slip who works at PT Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia, complete with details of gross salary, meal allowance, and THR.
This man shared his mother's pay slip
Facebook/Nostalgia 80s and 90s
Based on the slip, her mother's gross salary in January 1997 was Rp1.075 million, plus Rp15,000 in food allowance and Rp2.7 million in THR. After deducting various costs, the net salary received reached Rp3.7 million. If adjusted for inflation, this value is equivalent to around Rp29.7 million in 2023. This figure is much higher compared to the average UMP in 2024 which is only Rp3.1 million.
This comparison has sparked mixed reactions from netizens. Many feel sad because the salaries of employees in the 90s, when adjusted for inflation, are much higher than the UMR in many regions today. Some netizens even compared it to their own conditions, which still receive lower wages.
"Even Jogja's UMR is still lower," wrote @amarcellinop.
"His parents' salary in 1997 was bigger than the minimum wage in several areas now," added @winfinity___.
"Even though it was in the past, the nominal amount is still higher than my current UMR salary, it sucks," complained @r.ramadhan1097.
In addition, many have highlighted the disparity in purchasing power between the past and present. The prices of goods and basic necessities continue to rise, but salary increases are not comparable. Some netizens admit that it is increasingly difficult to meet the needs of life even though they work full time.
This man shared his mother's pay slip
Facebook/Nostalgia 80s and 90s
Although the mother's position on the pay slip was not mentioned, netizens suspect that she held a fairly high position, considering that the banking sector in the 90s did offer higher salaries than other professions. At that time, working in a bank was considered a prestigious job with a promising career path.
This phenomenon reaffirms that even though the UMR figure continues to increase in nominal terms, people's purchasing power is not necessarily better than in the past. The gap between salary increases and inflation is an issue that continues to be debated, especially amidst the current rising cost of living.
(brl/far)
