Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai Ready to Accept Salary Cut
Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has stated his readiness to accept a salary cut policy as a consequence of the dwindling fuel oil (BBM) stocks due to the conflict in the Middle East region.
The statement was conveyed by Pigai through his X social media account, @NataliusPigai2, on Thursday, 19 March 2026. He has given permission to Tempo to quote his statement. “Even if I do not receive a salary as a minister, I am willing,” said Pigai on Friday, 20 March 2026.
According to him, whether the salary is cut or not paid at all, he remains willing as long as the policy is aimed at the public interest, the people, the nation, and the state. Pigai also mentioned that, based on the State Organiser’s Wealth Report (LHKPN), he is the minister with the smallest assets in the current Merah Putih Cabinet.
He emphasised that since taking office as minister, the Ministry of Human Rights has prohibited all forms of money-giving from officials in its environment as an effort to maintain integrity. That policy, he said, is still being implemented to this day.
From that policy, Pigai claimed that the Ministry of Human Rights has become one of the conducive, solid institutions that work maximally in completing its tasks.
“My basic salary is Rp18 million, and I still manage with allowances and official travel according to the rules,” he said. He is also known to have previously served as a commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).
Previously, on 17 March 2026, the government planned to implement a salary cut policy for ministers in the Merah Putih Cabinet. State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi stated that the policy is still in the further study stage.
In the Full Cabinet Plenary Session at the State Palace on Friday, 13 March 2026, President Prabowo Subianto emphasised the importance of saving, even though the situation has not yet entered a crisis phase.
Prabowo cited Pakistan, which has implemented extreme or critical measures, such as reducing working days to salary cuts for officials. “This is just for comparison. So, they consider this already critical, like we did during Covid-19,” said Prabowo.