Bonuses for civil servants

Bonuses for civil servants

From Suara Karya

A few years ago civil servants, pensioners and Armed Forces members received a bonus of one month salary, also called the 13th month salary. This extra salary was usually given a few days before Idul Fitri celebrations, Christmas or New Year.

But nowadays this is not longer the case.

On the other hand, employees of the private companies are luckier. The Minister of Manpower instructed the companies to pay attention on the fate of their workers. Then the minimum wage scheme was implemented. Besides, the workers were also entitled to one month salary bonus which had to be paid a few days before the Idul Fitri day.

I was wondering why civil servants, pensioners and Armed Forces members are not entitled to such a welfare scheme? It is true that the salaries of the latter group were raised by ten percent. But this increase was immediately followed by a fantastic increase of the prices of basic commodities. So the increase meant very little to the receivers.

I think the government and the legislators should give due consideration to this matter. So that in the future the less privilege group will also enjoy an extra one month salary.

A. THOHARI ZEIN

Purbalingga, Central Java