Bangka Regent Assures Thousands of Contract Workers Will Retain Jobs

The Bangka Regency government in Bangka Belitung Province (Babel) has assured thousands of Pegawai Pemerintah dengan Perjanjian Kerja (PPPK) workers that they will continue to work. The emergence of Law Number 1 of 2022 on Financial Relations between the Central Government and Regional Governments now threatens the fate of thousands of PPPK workers across Indonesia, including in Bangka Regency. Not only full-time PPPK, but part-time PPPK are also at risk of being laid off. Bangka Regent Feri Insani has asked the thousands of PPPK workers to remain calm and trust the regional government. “I assure that all P3K will continue to work, so no need to worry,” Feri requested after attending the Quran completion and Halal Bihalal at the Office of the Food and Agriculture Service of Bangka on Wednesday (8/4). He mentioned that the current employee expenditure of the Bangka Regency Government is around 34 percent more, and this will certainly be made efficient to reach 30 percent. “We will strive to make efficiencies to meet the 30 percent employee spending,” he stated. In addition, according to the Regent, he will also endeavour to increase the Regional Original Revenue (PAD) of the Regency, particularly from sectors that can generate income for the region. “Once again, I firmly state that all P3K, whether part-time or full-time, will continue to work,” he said. The Director General of Regional Financial Development at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Agus Fatoni, emphasised that all employee spending needs, including for PPPK, have been adequately allocated. During that period, he added, regional governments still appear to be actively adding employees, both civil servants (PNS) and PPPK. The increasing burden of employee spending in the Regional Budget (APBD) is further pressuring regional finances in 2025 and 2026. The ASN Law regarding government employees with work agreements (PPPK) has been challenged at the Constitutional Court (MK) because it is deemed to cause uncertainty in employment status. Government agencies have also submitted absolute responsibility statements (SPTJM) when appointing PPPK. The 30% maximum cap on employee spending from the APBD, as regulated in central-regional financial regulations, loses relevance when not balanced with adequate fiscal support.