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