Government to raise pensions

JAKARTA (JP): This could be the best Christmas or New Year's present 700,000 former civil servants could ask for. Beginning in January, the government will be raising their pensions by between 10 and 20 percent.

The Chairman of the Civil Service Administration Agency, Soenarko, announced yesterday that the increase will also apply for retirees of the Armed Forces.

Retired judges stand to receive a 100 percent increase, he added.

While current pensioners will reap the benefit immediately, the increases are also intended to allay concerns among current civil servants about their welfare when they retire.

In the case of judges, for example, it is part and parcel of the recent government decision to raise their salaries, improve their welfare and make them more dedicated in their job of upholding the law.

Soenarko reported to President Soeharto yesterday about his recent appointment to head the agency in place of Waskito Reksosudirdjo. Waskito has been appointed as secretary general of the Civil Servants Corps. (emb)