City Councilors to get 55 percent salary hike
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)