City Councilors to get 55 percent salary hike

JAKARTA (JP): The City Council speaker called on councilors to improve their performances in airing the public's aspirations in light of them getting pay rises averaging 55 percent.

"The increase should motivate councilors to develop their visions and abilities to boost their service to the public," M.H. Ritonga said yesterday after a meeting on the wage increase proposal.

Secretary to Commission B for Economics, Zarkasyi Marzuki of the United Development Party faction, said the rise would be "like a farewell gift" for some councilors who would leave the council in the coming term.

In February or March councilors will get an average increase of Rp 600,000 in their gross monthly income to Rp 3.2 million (US$1,338) from Rp 2.7 million, he said.

The proposal was approved by all four factions: the United Development Party, Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party and the Military.

The proposal should be approved by the Minister for Home Affairs.

Each councilor will have their welfare allowances raised to Rp 750,000 from Rp 175,000, allowances for expenditure on meetings, meals and transport will be increased to Rp 250,000 from Rp 150,000.

The increase in representation allowances varies according to a councilor's position. The speaker's allowance will rise to Rp 900,000 from Rp 300,000, the deputy's to Rp 780,000 from Rp 260,000, and other members' to Rp 600,000 from Rp 200,000.

Differences in the salary hikes are also applied to other honorary allowances, including those given to councilors because of their positions in commissions. Currently, councilors, as commission members, do not get honorary allowances.

Under the new pay structure each commission head will get an allowance of Rp 90,000, deputies Rp 75,000, secretaries Rp 60,000 and members Rp 50,000.

Stimulant

Lukman F. Mokoginta, the head of the Indonesian Democratic Party faction, said the increase should be seen as a stimulant for the councilors to improve their work.

"Differences in percentages of the raises are reasonable as the Council Speaker, or the head of a commission, have more responsibilities," Lukman said.

In line with government regulations, some benefits, like rice and family subsidies will no longer be given.

Ritonga said the elimination of benefits should not worry councilors as the salary rise would cover extra expenses as stipulated in the Minister for Home Affairs' decree No, 15/1996. "It will not decrease their total income," Ritonga said.

The decree also stipulates councilors' salaries depend on provincional revenues.

Lukman, sharing Ritonga's opinion, said the salary rise would compensate the cut in benefits.

The proposal also includes a plan to provide an official car for each commission head to improve their mobility, The plan has been implemented in other city councils in West, Central and East Java. (04)