Amil Zakat Profession Not Yet Adequately Recognised in National Regulation

Coordinator of Indonesia Zakat Watch (IZW), Barman Wahidatan, highlights the persistent disparity in the welfare of zakat amil in Indonesia, which is assessed as lacking clear standards. He argues that the state needs to take the amil profession more seriously within a national regulatory framework to guarantee their welfare and professionalism, alongside calls to improve the governance of zakat.

Wahidatan said that the welfare of amil in Indonesia remains highly varied and, in many cases, lacks clear standards. He cited examples of amil who work on a contract basis despite performing core duties and functions equivalent to those of permanent amil.

‘Although in some large zakat institutions wage standards may be approaching a living wage, this is not widespread, particularly at regional levels—regional LAZs—and there are still many amil who receive incentives below the Provincial Minimum Wage (UMP),’ he told Republika on Thursday, 5 March 2026.

He added that welfare issues also arise within the National Zakat Amil Body (Baznas), which faces its own institutional challenges. IZW, he said, has received complaints from former Baznas amil who left abruptly after leadership changes due to internal political factors.