Pay increase aimed at stemming low productivity<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Vice President Jusuf Kalla reiterated on Thursday that efforts to
\nimprove the welfare of civil servants could not be put off any
\nlonger as the country's bureaucracy and governance were
\nsuffering.<\/p>\n
"We have not increased the salaries of civil servants for
\nthree years now. Their salary is actually declining, if higher
\ninflationary pressure is considered.<\/p>\n
"If there is no adjustment, we fear that their productivity
\nwill decline," said Kalla at his office.<\/p>\n
The government and the House of Representatives are discussing
\nplans to raise the take-home pay of the country's six million
\ncivil servants, as well as 500,000 soldiers and 125,000 police
\nofficers starting next year.<\/p>\n
The increase would be in the range of 30 percent for first-
\nand second-level workers, 15 percent for third- and fourth-level
\nworkers and 7 percent for first echelon officials such as the
\ndirectors general of ministries.<\/p>\n
Kalla said civil servants had for some time been cheating the
\npublic to make extra money. However, opportunities for seeking
\nextra cash were fewer following the government's intensive
\nanticorruption crackdown.<\/p>\n
"In previous years, civil servants could cope on their low
\nincomes through corruption. But today, they are no longer free to
\ncontinue with those practices. Therefore, we should immediately
\nraise their incomes to maintain their productivity," he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, House speaker Agung Laksono said legislators would
\nsupport the government's plan to raise civil servants' salaries.<\/p>\n
"We will support the plan. This is an important policy to keep
\nthe bureaucracy running and at the same time reduce corruption,"
\nsaid Agung in a joint press conference with Kalla.<\/p>\n
Regarding requests from lawmakers for an increase in their
\ntake-home pay, Agung said that the requests were understandable
\nsince their pay was too little for carrying out such a
\n"strategic" function.<\/p>\n
"Legislators are not asking for their basic salaries to be
\nraised, but more their daily operational allowances," said Agung.<\/p>\n
House members have requested an additional Rp 15 million
\n(US$1,560) a month for their operational allowance, deputy
\nspeakers Rp 22 million and the speaker Rp 30 million for
\nunspecified "operational work".<\/p>\n
The House speaker receives a basic monthly salary of Rp 14.6
\nmillion, while all other members receive Rp 8 million.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pay-increase-aimed-at-stemming-low-productivity-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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