Civil servants' salaries increased

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)