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)