E. Java councillors to get pay raise

E. Java councillors to get pay raise

SURABAYA: Councillors in East Java are set to get a hefty 60
percent salary raise.

The raise will come into effect on April 1. Councillors
currently take home an average of about Rp 4.7 million.

The decision was made during the closing session of the budget
commission.

Initially there were proposals to double the salaries, but it
got such a negative reaction from the public that it was decided
to reduce the increase.

East Java Governor Imam Utomo expressed surprise that
legislators demanded such a hefty increase.

"Come on. I only earn Rp 1.5 million per month. After tax and
others levies I'm left taking home Rp 1.3 million. Let's be
realistic," he remarked on Tuesday.

The latest decision is likely to raise more voices of
discontent. Non-government organizations had complained that
councillors were selfish to think only about their personal
financial prosperity while there are some two million people
unemployed in the province. (nur/edt)