Alms collection plan greeted with caution

Alms collection plan greeted with caution

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's plan to collect alms from
workers in the private sector received a warm, albeit cautious,
reaction from some quarters.

While most people interviewed said they agreed with the
charitable nature of the plan, some were concerned over the
administration of such a large undertaking.

Labor activist Fauzie Abdullah criticized the
institutionalization of alms collection and raised the question
of a control mechanism.

A legislator from the Golkar faction, Ali Rasjidi, and several
employees, said they would support the program as long as the
collection was voluntary.

The plan was disclosed by Minister of Social Services Inten
Suweno early this week after she met with the head of state.

Soeharto, in his capacity as chairman of the privately run
charity foundation, Yayasan Amal Bhakti Muslim Pancasila,
proposed extending the alms collection system already in
operation for members of the civil service and the Armed Forces.

He said the alms could be deducted automatically from the
workers' monthly wages. Those with monthly earnings of up to Rp
200,000 would be asked to contribute Rp 200 each month. Those
earning between Rp 200,000 and Rp 500,000 would be asked to set
aside Rp 1,000 and those earning more than Rp 500,000 would be
asked to contribute Rp 2,000, Inten said.

The foundation has been active in various charitable causes.

Poverty eradication

Soeharto said the alms collected from private sector workers
would be used to finance programs to eradicate poverty, including
giving scholarships to children of poor families.

"It is okay to make the appeal, but it is not necessary to
determine the amount of alms," Fauzie said.

He warned that the collection system could be easily
manipulated, so that what started out as voluntary could end up
being compulsory.

He also said not all people are able to contribute Rp 200 a
month because many workers still have to scramble for a living.

Fauzie also pointed out that workers in the private sector are
already burdened by various payments, ranging from income tax and
insurance payments to workers' union fees.

But even if workers volunteer to contribute to the alms
program, Fauzie said he was skeptical about the administration of
the funds.

"Who will have the authority to control the funds and how will
they do it?" he asked.

Rasjidi, a member of Commission VI of the House of
Representative (DPR) overseeing manpower, mining and energy, said
he supported the president's idea as long as the voluntary aspect
was not neglected.

"If the president says it is voluntary, there is nothing wrong
with the program," Rasjidi said.

He also insisted that the use of the funds must be
transparent.

"As long as the money is used for social activities, I do not
have any objection," he added.

Several employees of private companies said they would support
the alms collection program and have no objections to having a
small amount deducted from their pay each month.

"But the management must ask everybody first whether or not
they agree to the program. If any of us objects, the company must
not deduct the alms from our salaries," one woman said. (sim)