Dozens of Civil Servants in Mimika Resign Over Promotion Restrictions

Regent Johannes Rettob of Mimika stated that approximately 30 civil servants (ASN) working under Mimika Regency Government in Central Papua have resigned from their positions as village heads and section chiefs because they are unable to secure promotion.

“Roughly 30 ASN have resigned from their positions as village heads and section chiefs. The reason they are stepping down is that they cannot be promoted,” Rettob said in Timika on Sunday, 1 March.

He stated that the resignations were submitted voluntarily by the ASN in question because their current rank or classification does not meet the minimum requirements for the positions they currently hold.

“All civil servant regulations are already set within the system,” said Rettob.

He emphasised that the career progression and rank of civil servants are already established within the civil service system, and when these procedures are not followed correctly, it significantly impacts an ASN’s promotion and career advancement.

He gave an example: if a civil servant currently holds an echelon IV position, the minimum rank required for that position is echelon III.b, but if the official still holds the rank of echelon III.a, then that official cannot be promoted.

“I have been asking them to step down for some time. They only submit their resignation when they cannot be promoted. These are civil servants who need career advancement. We must either be officials or we must advance our careers properly,” said Rettob.

He noted that in the future, many officials in Mimika Regency who currently hold echelon III positions will be downgraded to echelon IV.

“Many officials who are currently echelon III will be downgraded to echelon IV—not as a demotion, but because their career advancement did not follow normal procedures. For example, moving directly from employee to echelon III is incorrect; it must follow proper procedures,” said Rettob.