Pay increases considered for state officials<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The government says it is considering increasing the take-home
\npay of the president, vice president, ministers and several other
\nhigh-ranking state officials starting next year, as part of
\nattempts to improve their services and devotion to the public.<\/p>\n
The move is part of the government's wider plan to improve
\nworking conditions of civil servants, soldiers and police
\nofficers, many of whom, if not most, are living on incomes below
\nthe minimum regional wage (UMR) set out for workers in the
\nprivate sector.<\/p>\n
If the plan materializes, it will be the first pay rise since
\n2003.<\/p>\n
The pay increase for the president, vice president and
\nministers will be around 5 percent, State Minister for
\nAdministrative Reforms Taufik Effendy said on Tuesday after a
\nceremony at the Presidential Palace.<\/p>\n
\"We are presently calculating a rational income for not only
\ncivil servants but also for the president and ministers. The
\nincrease here is not for their basic salary but for their take-
\nhome pay. If it was based on basic salary (the rise) would be too
\nsmall,\" said Taufik.<\/p>\n
The president's monthly basic salary is now Rp 26.7 million
\n(about US$2,750). However, with other allowances, he could take
\nhome nearly Rp 50 million per month.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, the vice president's basic salary stands at
\nRp 22 million, with take-home pay of about Rp 40 million.<\/p>\n
A minister's basic salary is Rp 12.6 million. If other
\nallowances are included, he or she can receive a take-home pay of
\naround Rp 20.5 million.<\/p>\n
Apart from basic salary and allowances, all government
\nofficials receive facilities such as an official house, car and
\nother payments to enable them to conduct official business.<\/p>\n
While the plan is currently being discussed with the House of
\nRepresentatives for approval, Taufik, however, said the main
\npriority would be pay rises for lower-ranking civil servants,
\nsoldiers, police officers, teachers and nurses and doctors.<\/p>\n
At present, there are about six million civil servants, plus
\n500,000 soldiers and 125,000 police personnel.<\/p>\n
According to Taufik, first- and second-level civil servants
\nwill receive a 30 percent increase in their take-home pay, while
\nthird- and fourth-level workers will have a 15 percent rise.<\/p>\n
As for first echelon officials, such as director generals in
\nministries, their income will be increased by up to 7 percent.<\/p>\n
\"The amount of the proposed rises will depend on the condition
\nof the budget and the approval of the House. It should be raised
\nin any way in order to improve their services to the public as
\nwell as reducing corruption,\" said Taufik.<\/p>\n
Taufik, however, refused to disclose the amount of funds in
\nthe state budget needed for the pay rises.<\/p>\n
In the 2005 state budget, the government allocated Rp 34.6
\ntrillion for salaries and allowances of civil servants, police
\nand military personnel, as well as pensioners.<\/p>\n
The allocation is only 1 percent higher compared to that
\nallocated in the 2004 budget.<\/p>\n
Low wages have been blamed for widespread corruption practices
\nin the country's bureaucracy and law enforcement institutions, as
\nwell as for the low productivity and professionalism within the
\ncivil service.<\/p>",
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