Fate of civil servants
Fate of civil servants
From Suara Karya
It is decreed in the 1999-2004 State Policy Guidelines (GBHN) that the professionalism and welfare of civil servants must be given attention. Civil servants are part of state's apparatus; they serve the state and the community. In this context, I fully support the central governing board of the Indonesian Civil Service Corps (Korpri) in its efforts to raise the professionalism of civil servants. I also support the possibility of civilian civil servants occupying structural positions, posts which give civil servants the responsibility, authority and right to head a unit of the state's organizational structure.
The restructuring of the Cabinet has come up with six ministries, resulting from the merger of ministries. Also, two offices of state ministers have been scrapped. This has caused worry among civilian civil servants in the concerned ministries, and these worries will affect their day-to-day work.
Civil servants whose ministries have been merged or liquidated will feel that their careers, which they have nurtured for many years, are coming to a stop. It is true they will continue to receive their pay, but they will have no more opportunities for promotion. It is therefore quite natural for Korpri to hope that the government really implements the provisions on civil servants contained in the 1999-2004 GBHN.
Ten months ago, the ministry of information, the ministry of social affairs and the ministry of public works were liquidated. Problems related with ranking officials in these ministries are yet to be resolved, but now there have been more mergers and liquidations.
I hope the ranking officials, who have dedicated themselves for dozens of years and have already gone through training and tests for the promotion of their careers, will not just be ignored and neglected.
Besides, it seems that the governing board of Korpri also hopes the funds for civilian civil servants managed by PT Taspen and Bapertarum may now be managed by Korpri, because this money comes from cuts to civil servants' salaries. It is quite proper for the government to find another source of funds to raise the welfare of civil servants. It should not, of course, cut the salaries of civilian civil servants.
VALERY E. SETIAWAN
Bengkulu