Civil servants' salaries increased

JAKARTA (JP): A university graduate who joins the civil service can now earn slightly more than Rp 241,800 (US$99) a month, with allowances, compared to Rp 150,200 before April.

The higher pay for an entry-level university educated civil servant came into effect last month with Government Regulation No.6/1997, but is still lower than the Rp 500,000 to Rp 1,000,000 private sector starting range.

The regulation raised the monthly salaries of the estimated four million civil servants by 34.4 percent for those on the highest grade to 73 percent for those on the lowest grade.

While the increase is the highest so far made in a year -- previous annual rises were only up to 20 percent -- the monthly base salary of employees on the lowest strata remains below the monthly minimum wage of factory workers in Greater Jakarta which is Rp 172,500.

The highest increase, 73 percent, was for civil servants on the lowest grade, increasing their base entry-level salary from Rp 78,000 (US$32) to Rp 135,000 a month.

The lowest increase, 33 percent, was for employees on the highest grade (IV), raising the monthly salary of an official with 32 years of service from Rp 537,600 to Rp 722,500.

In terms of salary, civil servants are classified into four grades: I, II, III and IV with each grade divided into four strata -- a, b, c and d -- except Grade IV which has five strata -- a, b, c, d and e. The lowest strata is I-a (entry level for workers with primary education) and the highest IV-e.

Elementary and junior high school graduates joining the civil service start at grade I. Senior high school graduates and university graduates with bachelor degrees start at group II and those with higher degrees at grade III.

The salaries of grade I-a civil servants rose from Rp 78,000 to Rp 135,000 but this will increase gradually up to Rp 293,500 for grade I-d (highest strata at this grade) with 27 years of service.

The grade II base salary was increased from Rp 110,100 to Rp 182,900, grade III from Rp 150,200 to Rp 241,800 and grade IV from 168,600 to Rp 282,900.

Civil servants also get allowances for rice, family and their administrative position.

For example, a IIIb-grade school teacher in Jakarta with 19 years experience now gets a take-home pay of Rp 405,000, with allowances. Her basic monthly salary, according the new ruling, is Rp 390,200. (rid)