Civil service housing benefits up

Civil service housing benefits up

JAKARTA (JP): The government raised housing benefits of civil servants corps by 100 percent, says State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung

Akbar told reporters here yesterday that housing benefits, effective as of the beginning of this month, for Class I civil servants have been increased to Rp 1.2 million (about US$545) from Rp 600,000.

Housing benefits for Class II bureaucrats are to be raised to Rp 1.5 million from Rp 750,000, while the benefits of Class III civil servants are increased to Rp 1.8 million from Rp 950,000.

The three classes represent the lowest echelons of the bureaucracy.

"The benefits can be used to build homes through the government's mortgage facilities," Akbar said.

President Soeharto said in his 1995-96 budget proposal speech Thursday that salaries of civil servants and members of the Armed Forces will be increased by 10 percent.

The salary raise will occur in two phases in which the lowest ranks, Class I and II, will get their 10 percent raise this month, and those in category III and IV will get theirs in April. (hdj)