C. Java sets up secretaries body

C. Java sets up secretaries body

SEMARANG: A meeting of 107 village secretaries from across Central Java province established the Association of Central Java Village Secretaries during the weekend.

New association chairman Soemardi said that one of the objectives of the association was to help smooth the implementation of Law No 32/2004 on regional governments, especially regarding the promotion of village secretaries to civil servants.

"So far the position of a village secretary is held by a village figure that is not given a salary from the government. What he gets a bengkok land (land for use of village employees in place of salary) of between one to 10 hectares, depending on the condition of the respective village," Soemardi said.

The association planned in future to send an envoy to the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide it with input regarding how secretaries should be promoted.

"The association (plans to) propose that we agree, unconditionally, to be promoted to the post of civil servant," he said. -- JP