House members to each get Rp 35m in take home pay
House members to each get Rp 35m in take home pay
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The House secretariat has proposed awarding legislators generous
increases in salaries and allowances, despite the generally poor
performance of the lawmakers.
According to the finalized proposal, which is to be submitted
to the House budgetary committee for deliberation as part of the
draft 2006 budget, salary and allowance increases for the 550
lawmakers will double the income they currently receive each
month.
Based on the proposal, each House member will receive a take-
home pay of Rp 6.2 million (US$641), up from the current Rp 3.72
million. Each deputy speaker will get Rp 7.3 million, compared to
Rp 4.3 million at present, and the speaker will pocket Rp 7.96
million, compared to Rp 4.4 million currently.
Additional income for our public representatives comes from
their communications allowances, allowances for holding more than
one position, utility allowances (telephone and electricity), and
travel allowances.
The communications allowance, which is aimed at improving
members' relationships with their constituents, comes to Rp 7.6
million, compared to Rp 4.1 million currently, while each deputy
speaker will receive Rp 8.5 million (Rp 4.5 million currently),
and the speaker Rp 9.9 million (Rp 4.9 million currently).
Each member who sits on more than one commission will receive
an additional Rp 1 million per commission.
Each lawmaker will receive Rp 3 million to pay his telephone
bill and Rp 2.5 for electricity, an increase from Rp 2 million
previously.
Members' travel allowances will come to Rp 2.5 million for
each lawmaker who visits a disaster-hit area, Rp 30.17 million
for a visit back to his or her constituency, Rp 4.3 million for a
trip representing a commission on which he or she sits, Rp 14.2
million for an inter-commission trip, and Rp 18.8 million for a
joint commission trip. A commission or faction chairperson will
earn an extra Rp 3.1 million per trip.
The proposal, drafted by the House secretariat, provides each
lawmaker with Rp 15 million in allowances for unspecified or
"special" trips, while a deputy speaker gets Rp 22 million and
the speaker Rp 30 million if they take part.
All in all, a House member who sits on one commission will
earn at least Rp 35.3 million per month, compared to the Rp 12
million they currently earn.
Several legislators have defended the plan, saying that the
salary and allowance increases are essential for improving their
performances and enhancing relations with their constituents.
Some others said they needed more money as they have hired
experts to assist them.