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.