Government Reviews Civil Service Efficiency Amid Global Conflict
The State Secretary Minister (Mensesneg) Prasetyo Hadi stated that the government is currently reviewing the impact of budget efficiency policies on the civil service apparatus (ASN). This includes potential adjustments to new employee recruitment in response to the global situation caused by escalating warfare.
Responding to questions about the number of civil servants affected, Prasetyo emphasised that the government has not yet been able to provide exact figures. However, the issue has been discussed in the context of maintaining the country’s fiscal balance.
“It has been discussed as one of the considerations. Therefore, as I mentioned earlier, regarding the specific number, we are not yet able to provide precise figures today,” said Prasetyo following his attendance at a Coordination Meeting on Presidential Strategic Programmes at the Defence Ministry office in Central Jakarta, Tuesday (17/3/2026).
He explained that naturally each year, there are civil servants reaching retirement age. Consequently, the government is considering adjusting the number of new ASN recruitment to match the number of retiring employees, as part of a budget control strategy.
“Regarding fiscal matters, naturally each year there are indeed a number of civil servants who reach retirement age,” said Prasetyo.
He stated that the policies adopted are still directed at ensuring the sustainability of government priority programmes. Therefore, the need for manpower in strategic sectors can still be adequately fulfilled.
According to Prasetyo, the government is taking budget efficiency measures in response to increasing global uncertainty caused by ongoing conflicts in various regions. This geopolitical situation is creating pressure on the world economy, ranging from fluctuations in energy and food prices to disruption of international supply chains.
Various conflicts, such as the war between Russia and Ukraine and tensions in the Gulf region, have had significant impacts on global economic stability. This situation has also affected various macroeconomic indicators, including inflation, exchange rates, and strategic commodity prices.